Two decades of satellite data show that the most destructive U.S. fires burn in grasslands and shrublands fanned by strong winds.
A series of images captured by NASA’s TEMPO sensor show the shifting location of nitrogen dioxide as destructive fires raged and smoke plumes streamed over the region.
The concentric rings of an ancient, extinct volcanic system stand above the island nation’s relatively flat central highlands.
Published Jan 19, 2025
The fire in Los Angeles County burned through nearly 24,000 acres in one week in January 2025.
Published Jan 16, 2025
A NASA airborne instrument captured images of the fire’s aftermath in and around Altadena.
Published Jan 15, 2025
The perpetually restless and occasionally explosive volcano in New Zealand has been emitting steam, volcanic gases, and a bit of ash.
Published Jan 14, 2025
Several plumes billowed from Los Angeles-area fires in the days after their ignition.
Published Jan 13, 2025
Patches of forest thrive on a plateau that straddles the border between North Dakota and Manitoba.
Published Jan 13, 2025
The older and newer cities of the Greater Cairo region look very different at night when viewed from above.
Published Jan 12, 2025
A NASA analysis shows that global temperatures in 2024 were 1.28 degrees Celsius (2.30 degrees Fahrenheit) above the agency’s 20th-century baseline.
Published Jan 10, 2025
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
Greenness is an important indicator of health for forests, grasslands, and farms. The greenness of a landscape, or vegetation index, depends on the number and type of plants, how leafy they are, and how healthy they are.
The Kumani Bank mud volcano in the Caspian Sea suddenly manifested an island in early 2023 that had nearly disappeared by the end of 2024.
Published Jan 10, 2025
Powerful Santa Ana winds and dry conditions contributed to the rapid spread of several brush fires in the county.
Published Jan 8, 2025
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
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.
The first major, widespread winter storm of 2025 delivered snow, ice, and frigid temperatures to a large swath of the country.
Published Jan 7, 2025Image of the Day Atmosphere Severe Storms Snow and Ice Temperature Extremes
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.
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
These maps depict anomalies in land surface temperatures (LSTs); that is, how much hotter or cooler a region was compared to the long-term average. LST anomalies can indicate heat waves or cold spells.
Lush green hillsides turned brown after Cyclone Chido hit the islands in December 2024.
Published Jan 6, 2025
We are kicking off 2025 with much to look forward to but also much to look back on.
Published Jan 6, 2025
Hurricane season in the basin runs from June 1 to November 30.
Published Jul 1, 2024
People have developed systems to harvest and store energy from sources such as wind, sunlight, and tidal action. Many of these installations are visible from orbit.
Published May 10, 2024
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
Ocean temperatures can influence weather, such as hurricane formation, and climate patterns, such as El Niño. These maps show the temperature at the surface of the world’s seas and oceans.
From ground-level ozone to particulate matter to nitrogen dioxide, an array of gasses and particles can affect the air people breathe, with implications for human health.
Published Apr 8, 2024
Warmer-than-average temperatures are showing up locally and globally, with consequences for people, landscapes, and ecosystems.
Published Mar 26, 2024
Whether sparked by lightning, intentional land-clearing, or human-caused accidents, wildland fires are burning longer and more often in some areas as the world warms.
Published Feb 27, 2024
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.
Warmer-than-average temperatures are showing up locally and globally, with consequences for people, landscapes, and ecosystems.
Published Aug 15, 2023
