MEDEA: Measurements of Earth Data for Environmental Analysis

The New York Times (1-4-10) reports on a government program called Measurements of Earth Data for Environmental Analysis (MEDEA):

The nation’s top scientists and spies are collaborating on an effort to use the federal government’s intelligence assets — including spy satellites and other classified sensors — to assess the hidden complexities of environmental change. They seek insights from natural phenomena like clouds and glaciers, deserts and tropical forests. [See the full text.]