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A race is on to figure out whether COVID-19 will wax and wane with the seasons. Atmospheric and hydrologic models produced by NASA and other institutions may be key to that research.
Two atmospheric rivers hit Australia’s east and west coasts with severe rains on the same day.
Views from above show the extent of change across Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park.
Published Aug 12, 2020
Researchers are using satellite and ground data to forecast the risk of cholera in the country, which has consistently experienced cases since 2017.
Published Aug 11, 2020
Radar imagery of ground surface changes could help with efforts at disaster relief and recovery after the explosion.
Published Aug 10, 2020
The Suomi NPP satellite got a clear view of Western Europe, its nighttime lights, and its moonlit landscape.
Published Aug 7, 2020
Bright lights of these coastal cities of China are sandwiched between mountains and the sea.
Published Aug 7, 2020
Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt seals, their preferred prey.
Published Aug 7, 2020
Building sand castles is a summer pastime, whether in a sandbox or at the beach. Nature builds with sand, too, using wind to create different shapes.
Published Aug 6, 2020 in EO Kids
Following an active 2019 season, fires in 2020 have again been abundant, widespread, and have produced abnormally large carbon emissions.
Published Aug 6, 2020
Volcanic activity that ramped up in late May 2020 has continued into August.
Published Aug 6, 2020
Record-low sea ice in July 2020 could be further depleted by a low-pressure system that developed over the Arctic Ocean.
Published Aug 5, 2020Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
Sea salt, volcanic ash, dust, wildfire smoke, and industrial pollution are types of airborne aerosols. Natural aerosols tend to be larger than human-made aerosols. These maps show when and where aerosols come from nature, humans, or both.
It is the largest estuary in the United States and third largest in the world. Once sculpted and changed by ice, water, and powerful geologic forces over tens of millions of years, today's Bay is shaped by human forces as well.
Published Dec 1, 2016
Snow and ice influence climate by reflecting sunlight back into space. When it melts, snow is a source of water for drinking and vegetation; too much snowmelt can lead to floods. These maps show average snow cover by month.
Satellite images of Earth at night have been a curiosity for the public and a tool of fundamental research for at least 25 years. They have provided a broad, beautiful picture, showing how humans have shaped the planet and lit up the darkness.
Published Apr 12, 2017
Scientists are probing environmental data from reanalysis models in the hopes of finding answers.
Published Aug 4, 2020Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Life Human Presence Remote Sensing
These maps show the average amount of water vapor in a column of atmosphere by month. Water vapor is the key precursor for rain and snow and one of the most important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Wildfire smoke from California traveled hundreds to miles and obscured skies in central Arizona.
Published Aug 3, 2020
Monsoon-related flooding, which has been ongoing since June 2020, has inundated a quarter of the country.
Published Jul 31, 2020
The category 1 hurricane is headed for a brush with Florida’s Atlantic Coast.
Published Jul 31, 2020Atmosphere Water Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing
In addition to making rain and snow, clouds can have a warming or cooling influence depending on their altitude, type, and when they form. These maps show what fraction of an area was cloudy each month.
Plants that can survive in harsh environments like Canada’s Devon Island may be good candidates for eventually terraforming the Red Planet.
Published Jul 31, 2020
The floating plant-like organisms are showing up in higher concentrations across the Arctic Ocean.
Published Jul 30, 2020Image of the Day Heat Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing Water Color
Land surface temperatures rise and fall with the heat of the Sun, and they represent how hot or cold the surface would feel to touch. These maps show daytime land temperatures as measured from space.
The combination of stable, ancient dunes and water channels displaying both braided and cross-connecting patterns make this region a planetary analogue for Mars.
Published Jul 29, 2020
Though located a world away, Lake Salda, Turkey, shares similar mineralogy as Jezero Crater on Mars.
Published Jul 29, 2020
These maps depict monthly total rainfall around the world. Rainfall is the primary source of fresh water for humans, plants, and animals. Rain also moves heat between the atmosphere, oceans, and land.
Satellites can spot some blooms earlier, resulting in significant savings on health care, lost work hours, and other economic costs.
Published Jul 29, 2020
A satellite caught a glimpse of the aurora australis over the Southern Ocean in July 2020.
Published Jul 29, 2020
Your challenge is to use the comments section to tell us what we are looking at, where it is, and why it is interesting.
Published Jul 28, 2020 in Earth Matters
A drought around South America’s second longest river has grounded ships and contributed to a rash of fire in the delta and floodplain.
Published Jul 28, 2020
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a different part of the world? What would the weather be like? What kinds of animals would you see? Which plants live there? By investigating these questions, you are learning about biomes.
Published Oct 5, 2000
Researchers can predict potential outbreaks of the mosquito-borne virus months in advance by using satellite data.
Published Jul 27, 2020
The category 1 hurricane caused flooding in southern parts of Texas.
Published Jul 27, 2020
The area is known for its extreme dryness and dangerous heat records. However, traces on the land indicate that water sometimes flows here.
Published Jul 24, 2020
Heavy rains and winds may result in flash flooding, landslides, and life-threatening surf conditions.
Published Jul 24, 2020Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Human Presence Remote Sensing
Tree and plant cover has deteriorated considerably in some areas, while advancing in other areas that previously burned or used to be frozen.
Published Jul 24, 2020
As water levels rise from excessive monsoon rainfall, dam operators discharge water through spillway gates.
Published Jul 23, 2020
By mid-July 2020, rainfall had triggered flooding and landslides that affected millions of people across South and East Asia.
Published Jul 22, 2020Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Floods Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing
On July 17, 2020, strong winds blew dust out of the Namib Desert.
Published Jul 22, 2020
A few decades ago, the idea of predicting a disease outbreak via satellite was science fiction. But today, researchers can use environmental data to predict when and where some diseases are likely to spread.
Published Jul 21, 2020
A wildfire in Fresno County, California has burned more than 28,000 acres.
Published Jul 20, 2020
NASA satellites and sensors constantly take the pulse of our planet. Researchers apply those observations on local and regional scales to better manage things like food and water supplies, health, safety, land use, and ecosystems.
Published May 1, 2020
After five rounds and 56,000 votes, the readers have chosen their favorite. We have a Tournament Earth 2020 champion.
Published Apr 28, 2020
Vote for your favorite all-time Earth Observatory image. Help narrow the field from 32 nominees down to one champion in a five-round tournament.
Published Mar 26, 2020Atmosphere Land Life Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing Videos
Pine Island Glacier is one of the fastest-retreating glaciers in Antarctica. Watch the glacier’s ice front as it retreats and sheds some notable icebergs over the past two decades.
Published Feb 13, 2020
