Officials Want to Wire Earth, Check Signs [View All]

[truthpusher]

Officials Want to Wire Earth, Check Signs
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13 minutes ago
By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
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WASHINGTON - Imagine the planet wired for a nearly continuous readout on its vital signs, shared by all. That's the essence of a White House plan announced Monday.

The new "Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System" envisions linking nearly 60 nations within a decade to gather and share information from satellites, ocean buoys, weather stations and other surface and airborne instruments.

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Many of the measurements already are being gathered. The new effort will focus on linking them in what Marburger called a planetary "system of systems." He released a 150-page plan that cites benefits such as improved weather forecasting and climate modeling, better estimates of crop yields and energy resources, and more knowledge about air and water quality.

As an examples of benefits, officials said better and shared data could save the United States as much as $1 billion in electricity costs each year if winter forecasts prove to be just 1 degree more accurate. As much as $1.7 billion of the annual $4 billion cost of weather-related aviation delays could be saved with better information, they added.

story: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=624&u=/ap/20050419/ap_on_sc/observing_earth_3&printer=1