The NEESPI Science Plan preparation began officially with the Suzdal, Russia Workshop in April 2003. The first draft of the Science Plan was reviewed at the Yalta, Crimea (Ukraine) workshop in September 2003, reworked during the following months, presented to the same external reviewers' committee and, finally, recieved their approval in authumn 2004. The current version of the Science Plan is as of December 2004.

NEESPI Science Plan Table of Content
Executive Overview (Russian version Chinese version)
List of Contributors

1. INTRODUCTION
2. SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS AND MOTIVATIONS
3. MAJOR SCIENTIFIC TOPICS

3.1 Terrestrial ecosystem dynamics
3.2 Biogeochemical cycles
3.3 Surface energy and water cycles
3.4 Land use interactions: societal-ecosystem linkages
3.5 Ecosystems and climate interactions
3.6 Topic of special interest

– 3.6.1 Cold land region processes
– 3.6.2 Coastal zone processes
– 3.6.3 Atmospheric aerosols and pollution,

4. REMOTE SENSING

4.1 Remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems
4.2 Remote sensing of coastal zone and inner water bodies
4.3 Remote sensing of cryosphere
4.4 Remote sensing of surface energy and water balance components

5. MODELING
6. DATA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
7. EDUCATION
8. RESEARCH STRATEGY

Scientific Background Appendix Chapter 2
Scientific Background Appendix Chapter 3

REFERENCES