The average global temperature has increased by a little more than 1° Celsius (2° Fahrenheit) since 1880. Two-thirds of the warming has occurred since 1975.
After months of severe drought, a burst of rain is causing problems.
Image of the Day Land Water Drought Floods Severe Storms Remote Sensing Temperature Extremes
The public is invited to help NASA investigate clouds during this GLOBE program challenge.
Published Jan 14, 2022
The past eight years have been the warmest in the global record.
Published Jan 14, 2022Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Water Human Presence Remote Sensing
A dark, rainy spring gave way to a vast, long-lived phytoplankton bloom off the coast of Brazil.
Published Jan 12, 2022
Increasing vegetation in the Himalaya may have implications for water supplies.
Published Jan 12, 2022
A sensor installed on the International Space Station is yielding fresh insights on the global distribution of lightning.
Published Jan 11, 2022
Clouds parted for a glimpse of one of the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth.
Published Jan 10, 2022
Incandescent lava erupts from a volcano in the Galápagos Islands.
Published Jan 7, 2022
After a rainy autumn, winter weather arrived in the Pacific Northwest.
Published Jan 7, 2022
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
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
More than 20 million people in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia now face some of the worst food security risks in 35 years.
Published Jan 7, 2022Image of the Day Heat Land Water Human Presence Remote Sensing
Even while skies are clearing over China, one type of particulate pollution continues to cause problems.
Published Jan 6, 2022
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
The storm blanketed the region with snow, closed schools, and snarled traffic.
Published Jan 4, 2022
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.
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
Abundant sediment often paints the sea ice tan in Foxe Basin.
Published Jan 4, 2022
Hurricane-force winds whipped fires across drought-parched grasslands and into suburban neighborhoods.
Published Jan 3, 2022
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
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.
The new missions will examine fundamental climate systems and processes, including extreme storms, surface water and oceans, and atmospheric dust.
Published Dec 30, 2021
Can you figure out where and what this is on Earth?
Published Dec 21, 2021
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.
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.
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.
Launched on Earth Day in 1995, the program connects scientists, teachers and students in 126 countries with hands-on scientific activities.
Published Dec 17, 2021
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
50 Years. 9 million scenes. One champion.
Published Sep 7, 2021
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
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.
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
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.
Published Apr 28, 2021
