essedesignguide.org

• Earth is a dynamic system that changes spatially (in space) and temporally (in time) under natural influences, and more recently under anthropogenic influences as well.
  
  

• Observational and modeled data form the building blocks for scientific study of the complex Earth system. We can study the change over time in the Earth system using paleo data, and more recent data from Earth observing satellites and other observational networks. Though paleo data is less detailed and spatially discontinuous, compared to some recent observational data, it provides important baseline information for the historic past.
  
  

• Remote sensing data provide a spatially continuous, synoptic overview of the Earth. The data from different satellite sensors help to understand the various processes and interactions operating in the Earth system.
  
  

• Geographic Information System provides the tools and environment to integrate, manage, analyze, and present disparate geospatial data (data with accurate location information).
  
  

• Models are conceptualization and/or simulation of the real world. Many models rely on modern computational power to mimic real life phenomena/processes, and to predict future scenarios based on varying parameters that the model is dependent upon. Models vary from simple to complex; and from local to global.
  
  

• A wealth of data, tools, and models is already available to the Earth system science community, and this repository is growing exponentially with time.