Author Description

The EOS Science Plan was first proposed to the community of EOS investigators at a meeting of the EOS Investigators Working Group in the fall of 1994. As the concept of the Plan evolved, it was decided that the primary audience for the Plan would be the scientific community and not the general public. Thus, the audience not only includes members of the EOS scientific community, but also includes scientists in related fields who are not necessarily acquainted with the goals and philosophies of scientists in the EOS program. Accordingly, readers will find a very thorough presentation of the state of the science being investigated by participants in the EOS program. They also will find discussions on how science investigations are being conducted both before and after launch of the EOS satellites. This review of the state of the science, along with its extensive documentation of scientific references, should be of value to both working scientists and to the graduate students who will take their place in the scientific endeavors of the next century. Both the anticipated contributions of the EOS satellites to our knowledge of Earth science and the synergisms existing between the various instruments are discussed throughout the plan. Also described are the many theoretical studies [called Interdisciplinary Science (IDS) investigations] that draw upon the satellite observations, and the role of field investigations in both validating instrument observations and enhancing our understanding of Earth System processes.