NASA has a unique vantage point for observing the beauty and wonder of Earth and for making sense of it. The images in this book tell a story of a 4.5-billion-year-old planet where there is always something new to see.
Tropical Storm Andres became the earliest named storm on record for the basin.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Severe Storms Remote Sensing
Sinking land, rising seas, and rainfall-driven floods pose big problems for Indonesia’s largest city.
Published May 12, 2021
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 May 11, 2021 in Earth Matters
A city full of cultural, historical, and architectural riches has gone to great lengths to protect itself from floods.
Published May 10, 2021
Plate tectonics and glaciers dramatically shaped the landscape of the New Zealand island.
Published May 9, 2021
The Gulf of Kutch is home to India’s first national marine reserve.
Published May 8, 2021
Waves in the atmosphere can form for a variety of reasons, from rugged topography to the collision of air masses.
Published May 6, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Volcanoes Remote Sensing
Astronaut photos of sunrises and sunsets occasionally include stunning views of high-flying aerosol plumes.
Published May 6, 2021
Nearly 85 percent of Mexico is experiencing drought, and water sources are dwindling.
Published May 4, 2021Image of the Day Land Water Drought Human Presence Remote Sensing Temperature Extremes
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
Before it is wiped away by spring melting, sea ice in the northern Baltic Sea displays some compelling patterns.
Published May 4, 2021
Net radiation is the balance between incoming and outgoing energy at the top of the atmosphere. It is the total energy available to influence climate after light and heat are reflected, absorbed, or emitted by clouds and land.
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.
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.
Using satellites, scientists are starting to better understand the specific sources of urban light pollution.
Published May 3, 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
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 coast of the tropical Africa nation is shaped by a confluence of rivers, lagoons, and bays.
Published May 2, 2021
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
With its rocky terrain, mountain caves, and beautiful beaches, Hingol National Park is one of the natural wonders of Pakistan.
Published May 1, 2021
Researchers work to map shallow waters with freely available data and cloud computing.
Published Apr 30, 2021
Explore how wildfire smoke travels in our sky and find out how NASA satellites track it in "Smoky Skies and Satellites." Plus, create your own data visualization.
Published Apr 29, 2021 in EO Kids
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.
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
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.
Earth observation technologies are revolutionizing global agri-food systems.
Published Apr 26, 2021 in Notes From the Field
Take a tree height observation on a smartphone, write a tree poem, and share stories about trees that are special to you on social media as part of the challenge.
Published Apr 21, 2021 in Earth Matters
A photo of one of the world's largest alkaline lakes handily won the crown.
Published Apr 15, 2021 in Earth Matters
Click to see the 2021 champion.
Published Mar 8, 2021
For 20 years, astronauts have been shooting photos of Earth from the space station. Like everything the astronauts do, they are trained for this job. And like everything they do, there is purpose and intention behind it.
Published Feb 8, 2021
From their perch on the space station, astronauts have spent 20 years sharing a story about Earth as they see it from above. Like the directors of a film, those astronaut storytellers have a crew working behind the scenes to help them tell the story. Meet the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit.
Published Dec 1, 2020
From their home on the International Space Station, astronauts have a view unlike anything most of us will ever see. Over 20 years, they have shot millions of photographs of Earth, and it is not just a hobby. It is an important scientific job, and one they need to be trained to do. Learn more about the challenges of watching Earth from above.
Published Nov 2, 2020
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.
Published Jul 14, 2020
