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.
The dust storm traveled from Algeria to Italy, spanning roughly 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).
Prolonged dry conditions have caused the worst drought in central and southern Brazil in almost a century.
Published Jun 23, 2021
The atmosphere is changing, trapping more heat from the Sun. The ocean plays a significant role in the balance.
Published Jun 22, 2021 in Earth Matters
Datasets from the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite will build upon three decades of sea level measurements.
Published Jun 22, 2021
One of the world’s largest deltas stands as a remarkable example of how water and ice can shape the land.
Published Jun 21, 2021
Chocolate mountains and a salty lake highlight this desert landscape.
Published Jun 20, 2021
The issuing of General Order No. 3 by Union troops on June 19, 1865, marked the official end of slavery in Texas and the U.S.
Published Jun 19, 2021
Precipitation totals and lake levels are among the worst they have been since the 1970s.
Published Jun 17, 2021Image of the Day Water Drought Human Presence Temperature Extremes
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
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
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.
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
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
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
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
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
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
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.
Click to see the 2021 champion.
Published Mar 8, 2021
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.
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.
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
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.
