| Vulcan_South South Pole based observatory to detect transits of extrasolar planets. |
| A_Planet_from_the_Early_Universe Astronomers have found the oldest and most distant planet known in the universe. (July 12, 2003) |
| Albanian_Wetland_Ecosystems_Project Project geared towards recording the nation's wetlands to create a database for use in conservation and wise use of the Albanian wetlands. Provides information, reports, and maps. |
| America\'s_Wetland__Campaign_to_Save_Coastal_Louisiana Information about one of the largest and most productive expanses of coastal wetlands in North America, now disappearing rapidly, and efforts to protect and restore it. |
| Army_Corps_of_Engineers_-_Wetlands_Research_Program Research program designed to advance the state of the art of wetlands science, engineering, and technology. |
| Army_Corps_of_Engineers_Sacramento_District_Regulatory_Home_Page Information related to wetlands, especially U.S. federal regulation of wetlands. |
| Bolsa_Chica_Wetlands_Restoration_Project Information about this wetland area and its restoration. In Orange County, California. |
| British_Columbia_Wetlands_Society Mission is to promote the conservation of British Columbia's wetland ecosystems through education, research and stewardship. |
| The_California_Resources_Agency_Wetlands_Web Comprehensive information about wetlands and their management in California and elsewhere. Content designed for the general public, the educational community, and government agencies. |
| Camosun_Bog_Restoration_Group Working in Pacific Spirit Regional Park in Vancouver to restore an ancient and sensitive habitat. |
| Citizens_for_a_Green_North_Tonawanda Wetland preservation and environmental education. |
| Classification_of_Wetlands_and_Deepwater_Habitats_of_the_United_States_Manual Report by wetland ecologists (Cowardin et al.) for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1979. |
| The_Coalition_for_Wetland_Protection Coalition of non-governmental organizations and scientific institutions focused on supporting and protecting the wetland areas of Poland. News, technical and issues information, and images of Polish w |
| Compensating_for_Wetland_Losses_Under_the_Clean_Water_Act___(2001),_Table_of_Contents Technical report by a committee of the National Academy of Sciences (2001). Covers wetlands restoration, mitigation, and related topics. |
| The_Digital_Field_Trip_to_The_Wetlands Learn about wetland ecology, including types, organisms, food webs, bog formation and conservation with Digital Frog International's award-winning educational CD-ROM. |
| Dr__Julian_Thompson_-_Wetland_Research_Unit Wetlands research (primarily in Africa and Asia) and courses offered at University College, London. Includes publications. |
| Duke_University_Wetland_Center The goal of the Duke University Wetland Center is to provide sound scientific knowledge that will lead to sustainable wetland functions and values for the nation and the world. |
| Electronic_Wetlands_Herbarium On-line field guide to U.S. wetlands plants. |
| Everglades_Library Internet resource library of information on the Florida Everglades and its restoration. |
| Flynn_Bogs_System A study of a bog system in Leon County Texas, describing the various habitats found, and the wildlife that inhabit them. |
| Friends_of_Bushy_Park_Wetlands Organization assists Parks Victoria rangers in the passive development of this wetland and sanctuary for 90 bird species in Glen Waverley, Australia. Includes information on wetlands and their biology |
| Ginninderra_Wetlands_Care_Group Wetlands management organization in Canberra ACT Australia. Site includes local and general wetlands information. |
| King_County_Wetland_Topics Information about wetlands, wetland plants and wildlife, development and mitigation rules, and educational programs from King County Department of Natural Resources, Washington State. |
| Kushiro_International_Wetland_Centre Archived newsletters and other information regarding wetlands matters in Japan's Kushiro region and other parts of the country, as well as international wetlands topics. |
| Lake_Koshkonong_Wetland_Association Promotes Lake Koshkonong and the Rock River in southern Wisconsin including the life of natural plants, fish, birds, and other forms of wildlife in the basin. |
| Louisiana_Coast_Web_Site contains information and links relating to coastal restoration projects in Louisiana. Site funded by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA). |
| Mike_Walter\'s_Wetlands_Page Annotated links to wetlands-related sites, especially those with an Indiana focus. |
| National_Wetlands_Inventory Maps and other information on U.S. wetlands, from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
| Ohio_Wetlands_Foundation Non-profit providing wetland, off-site compensatory mitigation credits and funding wetlands research and education |
| The_Olentangy_River_Wetland_Research_Park About wetland research and education facility at Ohio State University. |
| Penn_State_Cooperative_Wetlands_Center Information about interdisciplinary research, monitoring, and training regarding wetlands and related resources, with an emphasis in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states. One activity is deve |
| Pitt_Polder_Preservation_Society Established promote the protection of wetlands in the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows area in British Columbia, Canada. Provides information about bogs, other wetland types, and their values and functions. |
| Ramsar_Convention_on_Wetlands Official site of the secretariat for the Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. This intergovernmental treaty provides a framework for national action and international cooperatio |
| The_rehabilitation_of_Creery_Wetlands Provides an overview of the rehabilitation of the area including the re-introduction of the quenda. |
| Riparian_and_Wetland_Research_Program_of_the_University_of_Montana Research group dealing with issues relating to the ecology and management of riparian and wetlands of the state and the region. |
| Siberian_Crane_Wetland_Project A six-year effort to sustain the ecological integrity of a network of globally important wetlands in Asia, using the Siberian Crane as a flagship species. |
| Society_for_the_Conservation_of_Philippine_Wetlands Network of wetland workers and advocates who engage in activities supportive of wetland conservation objectives. |
| Society_of_Wetland_Scientists a non-profit organization founded to promote wetland science and the exchange of information related to wetlands. |
| South_Florida_Wetland_Ecosystems_Lab Describes wetlands research activities, including studies of mangrove ecology and water quality impacts in the Everglades. |
| Southern_California_Wetlands_Recovery_Project Goal is to accelerate the pace, the extent, and the effectiveness of coastal wetland restoration in Southern California through developing and implementing a regional prioritization plan for the acqu |
• a Space telescope to find planets outside from our solar-system as small as Earth •
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Short Introduction:
The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) uses a small collection of high sensitivity telescopes (probably 4 large 3.5-meter telescopes) with revolutionary imaging technologies.
It will measure the temperature, size, and the orbital parameters of planets as small as our Earth in the habitable zones of distant solar systems.
Also, TPF's spectroscopy will allow atmospheric chemists and biologists to use the relative amounts of gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane and ozone to find whether a planet might support life.
Launch is anticipated between 2012-2015.
"The discovery of life on another planet is potentially one of the most important scientific advances of this century, let alone this decade, and it would have enormous philosophical implications."
- National Research Council
One great challenge is how to detect planets against the blinding glare of their parent star.
TPF with 4 big telescopes, will reduce the glare of parent stars to see planetary systems up to 50 light-years away.
Infrared interferometer concept for Terrestrial Planet Finder
Earth-like planets:
An Earth-like planet is a rocky planet. Such planets will be found quite close to their star, where the temperatures are too high for the planet to be mainly made of ice. We will determine the amount of heat on a planet by its distance from its star, and we will confirm the temperatures by the broad overall shape of its spectrum. Cool planets will be brighter at the long wavelength end of their spectrum; hot planets will be brighter at the short wavelength end.
A small object such as our Moon has too little gravity to hold an atmosphere. However, an object this small could be detected in a nearby system because it would be only 12 times fainter than Earth. It could be recognized because it would show no atmospheric absorption features in its spectrum.
The smallest Earth-like planet we know is Mars (it's about half the diameter of Earth & weighs about 9 times less), which has about one-tenth as much matter as Earth. If a Mars-size planet had the same temperature as Earth, it would be three and a half times fainter. Mars presently has a rather minimal atmosphere, but there is evidence that a thicker atmosphere with water vapor existed in the distant past.
If a terrestrial planet is too close to its star, it loses water from its atmosphere and surface. We believe this is what happened to Venus (Venus is about 1.22 times less massive than Earth, and has a 1.05 times smaller polar radius).
If the planet is too hot, the water becomes vapor, and is lost from the atmosphere. If the planet is too cold, the water freezes. Either of these conditions would make a planet very inhospitable for life.
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