A balanced review of differing approaches based on remote sensing tools and methods to assess and monitor biodiversity, carbon and water cycles, and the energy balance of terrestrial ecosystem. Earth Observation of Ecosystem Services highlights the advantages Earth observation technologies offer for quantifying and monitoring multiple ecosystem functions and services. It provides a multidisciplinary reference that expressly covers the use of remote sensing for quantifying and monitoring multiple ecosystem services.

Rather than exhaustively cover all possible ecosystem services, this book takes a global look at the most relevant remote sensing approaches to estimate key ecosystem services from satellite data. Structured in four main sections, it covers carbon cycle, biodiversity, water cycle, and energy balance. Each section contains a review of conceptual and empirical methods, techniques, and case studies linking remotely sensed data to the biophysical variables and ecosystem functions associated with key ecosystem services.

The book identifies relevant issues and challenges of assessment, presents cutting-edge sensing techniques, uses globally implemented tools to quantify ecosystem functions, and presents examples of successful monitoring programs. Covering recent developments undertaken on the global and national stage from Earth observation satellite data, it includes valuable lessons and recommendations and novel ways to improve current global monitoring systems. The book delineates the use of Earth observation data so that it can be used to quantify, map, value, and manage the valuable goods and services that ecosystems provide to societies around the world.

"? a valuable compendium of information? should serve as an impetus driving greater awareness of remote sensing technologies and their adoption in ecosystem service assessments."-African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2015, 32(1) "Monitoring and mapping ecosystem services is critical to their effective management. This book covers the latest remote sensing techniques for doing that. A must read for anyone concerned with ecosystem services."-Robert Costanza, The Australian National University "? a broad and valuable introduction to the use of remotely sensed data sets in assessing and monitoring key ecosystem services. ? relevant to students and researchers interested in using earth observations in advancing their methods of inquiry. The subject matter is impressive, ranging from the carbon cycle to urban heat island effects. As humankind brings increasingly greater pressure to bear on natural systems, an improved understanding of their function in the context of change is critical. ? an important contribution in explaining the utility of remotely sensed data in meeting this challenge."-Matthew C. Hansen, University of Maryland "? synthesizes the state of the art of how remote sensing can contribute to get the pulse of the planet, specifically on how our ecosystems are changing and what key benefits they provide to societies. ? Timely, systematic, reliable, and easily accessible information on the flow of services to society from ecosystems is urgently needed: this book contributes one great leap forward. A massive effort from all nations will be needed to achieve full implementation of the suggested approach."-Patricia Balvanera, Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México "? offers a great overview of how earth observation systems are being used, can be used in the near future and what the caveats and pitfalls are at present. ? It is one of the objectives of GEO BON to provide this overview and develop capacity building programmes for the whole community. This book is a good step into that direction."-Rob H.G. Jongman, Alterra, Wageningen UR, Steering Committee GEO BON