Big Earth Data from space: a new engine for Earth science

Big data is a strategic highland in the era of knowledge-driven economies, and it is also a new type of strategic resource for all nations. Big data collected from space for Earth observation—so-called Big Earth Data—is creating new opportunities for the Earth sciences and revolutionizing the innovation of methodologies and thought patterns. It has potential to advance in-depth development of Earth sciences and bring more exciting scientific discoveries. The Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Forum on Frontiers of Science and Technology for Big Earth Data from Space was held in Beijing in June of 2015. The forum analyzed the development of Earth observation technology and big data, explored the concepts and scientific connotations of Big Earth Data from space, discussed the correlation between Big Earth Data and Digital Earth, and dissected the potential of Big Earth Data from space to promote scientific discovery in the Earth sciences, especially concerning global changes.摘要大数据是知识经济时代的战略高地,是国家和全球的新型战略资源。作为思维与方法论的创新与革命,空间地球大数据为地球科学研究带来了新机遇,有望为推动地球科学深度发展并产出重大科学发现做出贡献。中国科学院学部“空间地球大数据”科学与技术前沿论坛于2015年6月在北京召开。本次论坛剖析了空间对地观测技术及其大数据的发展,探讨了空间地球大数据理念,剖析了空间地球大数据科学内涵,讨论了空间地球大数据与数字地球关系,分析了空间地球大数据对推动地球系统科学及全球变化发展的潜力。