ABSTRACT
Life on Earth is sustained by water and driven by energy. Human civilization depends on terrestrial ecosystems, yet the survival of both balances delicately on a precipice of tipping points. Here, we describe how energy drives these ecosystems, how they are changing, and challenges that the next generation of youth today face with respect to these changes. We demonstrate how emerging spaceborne technology can track this flow of energy throughout terrestrial ecosystems, manifested as temperature measured through thermal infrared radiation. Further, we show that such technology has become so accessible that the youth are now tracking large-scale climate disasters around the world, empowering the next generation to lead solutions. Finally, we give voice to some of those young scientists—voices that are typically excluded in scientific works such as this book. The technology has advanced to provide solutions to some of today’s most pressing crises, and those who will be most affected now have the tools in their hands.
