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.
Precipitation totals and lake levels are among the worst they have been since the 1970s.
Image of the Day Water Drought Human Presence Temperature Extremes
Extreme heat has descended on the southwestern United States, with several states enduring temperatures near and above record highs for June.
Published Jun 16, 2021Image of the Day Heat Land Drought Remote Sensing Temperature Extremes
Researchers have created a satellite-based tool to help officials identify new activity.
Published Jun 16, 2021
Your challenge is to tell us what we are looking at, where it is, and why it is interesting.
Published Jun 15, 2021 in Earth Matters
In the past decade, unregulated artisanal mines accounted for more deforestation than industrial mines.
Published Jun 15, 2021
Sediment-rich water from the interior of Madagascar meets the sea in mangrove-fringed Loza Bay.
Published Jun 13, 2021
A phenomenon known as a “heat dome” set the stage for remarkably high temperatures as meteorological summer got under way.
Published Jun 11, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Remote Sensing Temperature Extremes
For the second year in a row, drought has overtaken much of the United States from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast.
Published Jun 11, 2021Image of the Day Land Water Drought Remote Sensing Temperature Extremes
NASA plays a role in providing observations and analysis of natural and technological disasters.
Published Jun 11, 2021
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.
Intense rains during the wet season for a second year in a row have caused trouble for riparian communities near Africa’s largest lake.
Published Jun 10, 2021
A rare winter-like storm struck central Chile and Argentina in the middle of austral summer, with drastically different consequences compared to a typical winter storm.
Published Jun 9, 2021
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 millions of tons of dust lofted out of Africa each year are a visual reminder of how Earth’s systems are interconnected.
Published Jun 7, 2021
Popigai is one of the largest and most well-preserved impact craters on Earth.
Published Jun 7, 2021
Zambia’s Bangweulu wetlands make ideal hunting grounds for this distinctive bird species.
Published Jun 5, 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
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.
Recent research shows that changes in the onset of spring—both early and late—can lead to more severe asthma for some people.
Published Jun 3, 2021 in Earth Matters
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.
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 show the average amount of water vapor in a column of atmosphere by month. Water vapor is the key precursor for rain and snow and one of the most important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
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 1, 2021
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
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
Click to see the 2021 champion.
Published Mar 8, 2021
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
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.
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
