David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington, DC                        May 29, 2001
(Phone: 202/358-1730)

RELEASE:  01-105

NASA ADMINISTRATOR CITES ALASKA'S IMPORTANCE 
AS GLOBAL THERMOSTAT

     During testimony before Senate Appropriations Chairman 
Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) in Fairbanks, AK, today NASA 
Administrator Daniel S. Goldin called Alaska the nation's 
thermostat for understanding climate change, and cited the need 
for continued research into global climate change with a special 
emphasis on Alaska and the Arctic region

Goldin was one of several senior government officials testifying 
at the Committee's field hearing on global climate change. The 
Administrator discussed NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, a long-
term research effort designed to study the role of natural and 
human-induced changes in our global environment.

Goldin pointed out the key role Alaska plays in global climate, 
and the impact of climate change on Alaska and the Arctic 
regions during his testimony. "It is the general understanding 
of the science community that changes in Alaska and the polar 
regions are the best early indicators of global climate change," 
said Goldin. "If substantial change occurs in the climate 
system, it is expected to show up first and largest in the polar 
regions." 

"Small changes in temperature bring large expanses of the Arctic 
region closer to water's phase, a change of state from solid to 
liquid over longer periods of time," added Goldin. "This can 
have major effects on plant, animal, and human life in this 
broad expanse of Earth."

Citing the successful international arctic ozone study known as 
SOLVE as an example, Goldin expressed the importance of 
international cooperation in the study of our planet's health 
and he called for continuation of NASA's long-term research into 
changes in the polar ice sheets and oceans that provide the 
"thermostat" for regulating planet Earth's temperature.

"NASA will continue to lead the nation and the world through 
space-based Earth Sciences research, part of the 
Administration's commitment to understanding the dynamics of our 
home planet's climate change and its impact on our economy and 
society," Goldin said.

Also testifying with the Administrator were: 
o  Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation
o  Dr. Scott Gudes, Acting Undersecretary for Oceans and 
   Atmosphere, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
o  Dr. Charles Groat, Director United States Geological Survey, 
   Department of Interior

                          -end-