The Space Studies Board, in consultation with other units of the National Research Council (NRC), has begun a study to generate prioritized recommendations from the Earth and environmental science and applications community regarding a systems approach to the space-based and complimentary observations that encompasses the research programs of NASA and the related operational programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The study, which will be carried out over a 2-year period and is organized in a manner similar to other NRC decadal surveys, will seek to establish individual plans and priorities within the subdisciplines of the Earth sciences as well as an integrated vision and plan for the Earth sciences as a whole. It will also consider Earth observations requirements for research and for a range of applications with direct links to societal objectives. Richard Anthes and Berrien Moore have been appointed by the NRC as study cochairs.