Earth Science and Observation Center (ESOC)

Advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth System based on innovative remote sensing research

Earth image from space

The Earth Science and Observation Center (ESOC) at CIRES is a research center dedicated to the understanding of the Earth System, primarily – but not exclusively - through the use of remote sensing techniques.    

Since the 1980s, the importance of understanding the Earth as a system has become widely recognized, and remote sensing, both from air and space, has been a fundamental tool for this purpose. By providing observations of individual and integrated processes at the appropriate scales, with the appropriate perspective, and in the appropriate context to enable the study of the various components of the Earth system and their interactions, remote sensing has provided some of the greatest advances in Earth system science.

News

Events

ESOC Congratulates Joel Johnson on CIRES Graduate Research Award

ESOC is proud to congratulate PhD student Joel Johnson for being selected as a recipient of the CIRES 2025 Graduate Student Research Award. The GSRA program recognizes outstanding student scholarship and research excellence. Joel, a student in CU's Department of Geological Sciences, focuses on "Precision River Width Mapping: Leveraging Commercial SAR for Upstream Monitoring." He is advised by Dr. Kristy Tiampo. More details on the GSRA program and 2025 recipients here.


ESOC research scientist Toby Minear tracks river flows by kayak

Minear has traveled the world to run rivers in his kayak. Sometimes, he combines the sport with his work on NASA’s Surface Water and Ocean Technology satellite (SWOT). The Colorado Sun and KUNC reported on finding joy in work that aligns with one’s passions.