What makes an urban heat island? Why is New York City a “hot” town? Where are the hottest places on Earth? How can NASA scientists help city planners turn down the heat?
Pulses of dust from the Sahara Desert reached the Caribbean and parts of the United States in July.
A network of coastal protection projects have allowed approximately 9 million people to live below sea level in The Netherlands.
Published Jul 31, 2022
From soaked to dry, the variable state of U.S. soils has implications for farmers and crop production.
Published Jul 29, 2022
Teaching and telling others about science is what keeps Alex Haughton coming into work.
Published Jul 28, 2022
Scientists and regulators are using satellite data and custom models from NASA to help monitor ozone pollution.
Published Jul 28, 2022
Both planets face dust storms—and the occasional flight delays that come with them.
Published Jul 27, 2022
For the second time in a month, drought-parched forests near the park are burning.
Published Jul 25, 2022Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires Remote Sensing
The aurora australis fluttered north and south of the Antarctic Circle on several nights in July.
Published Jul 25, 2022Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Snow and Ice Remote Sensing
Low Sun angles help reveal the three dimensions of a landscape.
Published Jul 24, 2022
A reservoir in northern Mexico drops to less than one percent capacity amid a persistent and deepening drought that defies borders.
Published Jul 23, 2022
Chlorophyll is used by algae and other phytoplankton--the grass of the sea--to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into sugars. These maps show chlorophyll concentrations in the ocean, revealing where phytoplankton are thriving.
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
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
The DEUCE payload stands vertical, moments away from being launched into space.
Published Jul 21, 2022
At least one place in the U.S. is colder than normal.
Published Jul 21, 2022
Sounding rockets provide a fast and cheap route to prove the viability of cutting-edge instrumentation.
Published Jul 19, 2022
Back-to-back weather systems in July 2022 eased rainfall deficits in central Chile and added to the snowpack atop the mountain range.
Published Jul 18, 2022Image of the Day Floods Severe Storms Snow and Ice Landslides
The Aqua satellite captured an image showing dozens of fires charring forests in Russia’s far east.
Published Jul 18, 2022
What do you do when presented with a new satellite image? Here's what the Earth Observatory team does to understand the view.
Published Nov 18, 2013
When fuels such as coal, wood, and oil burn incompletely, they produce carbon monoxide. The gas is spread by winds and circulation. These maps show monthly averages of CO in the lower atmosphere.
Scientists journeyed to Utqiaġvik, Alaska, where they installed automated sensors to capture the region’s seasonal green-up.
Published Jul 14, 2022
It takes a village to send something to space.
Published Jul 14, 2022
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.
In honor of our site anniversary, we offer a selection of some of the most beautiful, newsworthy, interesting, and scientifically important images from 23 years online — one image for each day of the calendar year.
Published Apr 26, 2022
For the third time in a decade, the winner hails from the Canary Islands.
Published Mar 1, 2022
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.
As green chlorophyll fades from trees and plants each autumn, other pigments color the Earth’s landscapes. Satellites take leaf-peeping to a whole new level.
Published Oct 26, 2021
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 Aug 28, 2020
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
Summer is beach season in the northern hemisphere. But even if you're a regular at your local swimming hole, you probably haven't seen too many beaches from this perspective. See the satellite and space-station views of various shorelines from across the United States. No sunblock necessary.
Published Jul 22, 2021
Clouds can be a nuisance when scientists are trying to observe features on Earth's surface. But at other times, clouds are exactly what they want to see. These images highlight some of the more unusual and beautiful clouds observed in recent years from space.
Published Jun 21, 2021
Since 1999, Earth Observatory has published images and stories from all over our planet. Now you can explore more than 11,000 images in a different way: by location.
Published Jun 2, 2021
