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In summer 2018, wildfires across western North America disrupted the lives of millions. Smoke from some of the blazes was so pronounced it was visible from space.
A powerful, dangerous hurricane is poised to hit Mexico.
Skies in Alexander Bay darkened as the cloud of dust moved past.
Published Oct 22, 2018
Many parts of the world are already seeing rising sea levels, hotter temperatures, more extreme precipitation and droughts, more acidic oceans, and faster rates of extinctions.
Published Oct 19, 2018 in Earth Matters
The distinctive sedimentary rock formations in west-central Argentina make for a geological and paleontological wonderland.
Published Oct 19, 2018
A project using NASA satellite data helps reduce overwatering and enhances crop yields for Pakistani farmers.
Published Oct 18, 2018
Satellites captured a rare image of a plume of dusty glacial flour streaming from eastern Greenland.
Published Oct 17, 2018
The powerful storm knocked out power across the southeast U.S., as seen by a NOAA-NASA satellite.
Published Oct 16, 2018Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms Human Presence
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
The potent storm has discolored the Gulf of Mexico near Florida and Alabama.
Published Oct 15, 2018
Deciduous trees in northern Utah paint the mountains in shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple.
Published Oct 15, 2018
The area around the two Vancouvers is rich in natural beauty and resources.
Published Oct 14, 2018Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Human Presence Snow and Ice
Luban is the third cyclone to develop in the Arabian Sea in 2018.
Published Oct 13, 2018
These maps show the ‘metabolism” of Earth’s plants and trees. Net primary productivity is the difference between the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed during photosynthesis minus the amount released by respiration.
Snow and ice influences 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.
These maps depict how much hotter or cooler an ocean basin was compared to the long-term average. Temperature anomalies can indicate changes in ocean circulation or the arrival of patterns like El Niño and La Niña.
If there’s ever a satellite that deserves an award for longevity, it's Terra.
Published Oct 12, 2018 in Earth Matters
Since making landfall, the storm has caused severe property damage and deaths in the southeastern United States, with more damage expected.
Published Oct 12, 2018Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms Human Presence
The category 4 storm is believed to be the strongest hurricane on record to hit the Florida Panhandle.
Published Oct 11, 2018
Airborne aerosols can cause or prevent cloud formation and harm human health. These maps depict aerosol concentrations in the air based on how the tiny particles reflect or absorb visible and infrared light.
The U.S. state that receives more direct hits from hurricanes than any other prepared for yet another one.
Published Oct 10, 2018
Carbon flows between the atmosphere, land, and ocean in a cycle that encompasses nearly all life and sets the thermostat for Earth's climate. By burning fossil fuels, people are changing the carbon cycle with far-reaching consequences.
Published Jun 16, 2011
A team of NASA scientists headed to Holuhraun because the volcano has geologic cousins on Mars.
Published Oct 9, 2018
Cold air blows over warmer water to produce thin, parallel lines of clouds.
Published Oct 8, 2018
The upper reaches of Michigan are rich in natural resources, with more emphasis on the “nature” these days.
Published Oct 7, 2018
The peculiar curved shape of this cloud over Mali is the product of a phenomenon associated with thunderstorms.
Published Oct 6, 2018
A new mission to monitor Earth’s changing ice fired its laser for the first time and returned its first height measurements from across the Antarctic ice sheet.
Published Oct 5, 2018 in Earth Matters
The GEOGLAM Crop Monitor for Early Warning provides science-driven alerts for countries that may be in danger of low crop yields.
Published Oct 5, 2018
Remnants of Hurricane Rosa delivered heavy rain and caused flash floods in northwestern Mexico and the U.S. Southwest.
Published Oct 4, 2018
Sobering satellite views reveal massive damage on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Published Oct 3, 2018Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence Remote Sensing Earthquakes
A powerful earthquake triggered hundreds of landslides on the Japanese island.
Published Oct 2, 2018
NASA has funded five new projects to develop tools and technology to make the agency’s massive Earth science datasets more accessible and user-friendly.
Published Oct 1, 2018 in Earth Matters
About half of this archipelago in the Russian high Arctic is covered in ice.
Published Oct 1, 2018
Samoa’s two largest islands, made by volcanoes, have productive reefs and fertile soils.
Published Sep 30, 2018
As the storm turns toward Japan, the country’s meteorological agency warns of the potential for heavy winds, rain, landslides, and flooding.
Published Sep 29, 2018
The ice cap tied for the sixth lowest extent on record, continuing a long-term decline.
Published Sep 28, 2018
Carsten Braun last surveyed Humboldt Glacier in 2015. He talked about what it was like to stand on Venezuela’s last glacier.
Published Sep 27, 2018 in Earth Matters
Croplands and grasslands around New Delhi are being converted into city structures to create one of the fastest urban expansions in the world.
Published Sep 27, 2018
Your challenge is to tell us what we are looking at and why this place is interesting.
Published Sep 26, 2018 in Earth Matters
From 1988 to the present, Landsat satellites have seen changes in shape, size, and position of the Padma River in Bangladesh. View the river's transformations over the past three decades.
Published Aug 21, 2018
One of the major rivers of Bangladesh has been growing in size, transforming in shape, and changing in location for decades. Each twist and zigzag of the river tells a different geologic story about the power of erosion.
Published Jul 31, 2018
On July 4, United States citizens celebrate the nation’s independence. EO does the same by visiting five places with historical significance.
Published Jul 3, 2018
In early May 2018, an eruption on Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began to unfold. Here’s what satellites saw in the first few weeks of the eruption.
Published Jun 13, 2018
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.
Astronauts regularly shoot photographs of their earthly home. In celebration of National Astronaut Day, NASA Earth Observatory presents some recent eye-catchers from the International Space Station.
Published May 4, 2018
