Michael Studinger: Remote Sensing of Lake Vostok
     Buried under 4 km (2 1/2 miles) of ice in the heart of the Antarctic continent lies Lake Vostok, one of the world's biggest freshwater lakes.  For up to 25 million years the Lake has been covered by an ice sheet and isolated from the atmosphere.  In 1996 European satellite imagery confirmed the lake's existence, sparking scientific inquiry into the Lake and its processes.  Lamont scientists are using ice-penetrating radar data, and GPS measurements to study the melting and refreezing in the lake, and the direction of ice flow of the overlying glacier to understand better the dynamics of the water exchange system. The geologic origin of the lake provide important boundary conditions for the
ecosystem. The magnetic and gravity field of the Earth are used to  interpret the geologic structures beneath the ice sheet.

Here are selected links to related LDEO research projects:
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/pi/vostok/
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~mstuding/
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~mstuding/vostok
http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/vostok/vostok.swf
http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/story3_2_01.html
http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2003/story01-21-03.html

     Satellites and other remote sensing strategies now provide  increasingly  important tools for scientists, planners, and emergency responders in connection with natural disasters. Here are links to two web sites explaining more about remote sensing techniques:

   Originally, we were to be joined also by Dr. Christopher Small, but his research investigations have taken him to Oman at this time. Chris will join us again in the fall.
Chris Small--one of the original E2C guest scientists when we began this program in 1998!--leads the Remote Sensing group at LDEO. Recently, he applied remote sensing techniques to helping in the tsunami relief and research efforts.
     Link to Dr. Small's home pages:  http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~small/

   ISS EarthKAM http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/public/educators/index.shtml
     The International Space Station will not become fully functional for years, but since 1996, images have been taken from the ISS that provide scientists and students with great views of our planet. You can find out much more about the ISS through http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/.
     Numerous activities for students have been created and are available on-line at http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/public/educators/activities/index.shtml