The tool that has significantly contributed to our understanding of Earth's land cover, atmosphere, ice coverage, and oceans over the past few decades is primarily satellites. Satellite technology has enabled the collection of vast amounts of data through remote sensing, which allows scientists to monitor changes in the environment, climate, and natural resources on a global scale.
While two fieldwork and three global positioning systems for geographic information systems (GIS) are important for data collection and analysis, the use of satellites stands out as the key instrument for gathering comprehensive imagery and measurements of the Earth over large areas and timeframes.