The Earth Science Research Program contributes to NASA’s mission, in particular, Strategic Objective 1.1: "Understand the Earth system and its climate" (from the NASA 2022 Strategic Plan). This strategic objective involves the following key goals:
• Advance the understanding of changes in the Earth's radiation balance, air quality, and the ozone layer that result from changes in atmospheric composition;
• Improve the capability to predict weather and extreme weather events;
• Detect and predict changes in Earth’s ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles, including land cover, biodiversity, and the global carbon cycle;
• Enable better assessment and management of water quality and quantity to accurately predict how the global water cycle evolves in response to climate change;
• Improve the ability to predict climate changes by better understanding the roles and interactions of the oceans, atmosphere, land, and ice in the climate system;
• Characterize the dynamics of the Earth’s surface and interior, improving the capability to assess and respond to natural hazards and extreme events; and
• Further the use of Earth system science research to inform decisions and provide benefits to society.
