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Polar Bears Struggle as Sea Ice Declines
Australian Smoke Plume Sets Records
Coast of Peru
Eddy Extravaganza off the Italian Coast
Image of the Day Feb 4, 2020

Polar Bears Struggle as Sea Ice Declines

A new study shows that polar bears are spending less time on sea ice, leading them to fast longer, become thinner and have fewer cubs.

Estimating Forest Stand Height in the City of Life
Notes from the Field

Estimating Forest Stand Height in the City of Life

SERVIR team members traveled to Bangkok, where they connected researchers with the tools to use Synthetic Aperture Radar data to monitor forests and estimate biomass.

Published Jan 31, 2020 in Notes From the Field

Flood Waters Overwhelm Northern Madagascar
Image

Flood Waters Overwhelm Northern Madagascar

Parts of the island nation saw double the usual amount of monthly rainfall.

Published Jan 30, 2020

Image of the Day Land Water Floods Human Presence Landslides

Baikal’s Giant Ice Rings
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Baikal’s Giant Ice Rings

The puzzling features are most easily seen from above, but they pose real risks at the surface.

Published Jan 29, 2020

Image of the Day Snow and Ice Remote Sensing

Bloom in McMurdo Sound
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Bloom in McMurdo Sound

Off the coast of Antarctica, vibrant green phytoplankton swirls amidst the sea ice.

Published Jan 28, 2020

Image of the Day Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing Water Color

MOSAiC: Gearing Up for Leg Three
Notes from the Field

MOSAiC: Gearing Up for Leg Three

MOSAiC expedition scientists prepare for research aboard an icebreaker, which has been frozen into the Arctic sea ice for about three months.

Published Jan 28, 2020 in Notes From the Field

A Clearer View of Hazy Skies
Article

A Clearer View of Hazy Skies

Industrialization has brought incredible societal advances and difficult pollution problems. From space, we can see skies clearing in some regions and darkening in others. The thin blue line of our atmosphere is still quite vulnerable.

Published Jun 24, 2014

Atmosphere Human Presence Remote Sensing

Mekong Turns from Brown to Blue-Green
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Mekong Turns from Brown to Blue-Green

In late 2019, the river started to turn colors due to a reduced sediment load and algae blooms.

Published Jan 27, 2020

Image of the Day Water

Taal Volcano remains on Level 4 alert, but what does that mean?
Earth Matters

Taal Volcano remains on Level 4 alert, but what does that mean?

Since its initial eruption, Taal remains on a level 4 alert, with a hazardous eruption still possible.

Published Jan 24, 2020 in Earth Matters

Chlorophyll
Global Maps Jul 2002 — Nov 2019

Chlorophyll

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.

Life Water

A New Measuring Stick for Forests
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A New Measuring Stick for Forests

The amount of carbon that is being stored by trees and how it has changed over time is the least understood aspect of the global carbon cycle.

Published Jan 24, 2020

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Blue Marble Next Generation
Article

Blue Marble Next Generation

12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.

Published Oct 13, 2005

Atmosphere Land Water Snow and Ice

Rain Brought Brief Relief to Australia
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Rain Brought Brief Relief to Australia

Bushfire counts dipped in mid-January when much-needed rainfall poured down on New South Wales and Victoria.

Published Jan 24, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires Remote Sensing

How Cancún Grew into a Major Resort
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How Cancún Grew into a Major Resort

Once one of the poorest regions of Mexico, Cancún is now a bustling tourist city with millions of visitors each year.

Published Jan 23, 2020

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Aerosol Size
Global Maps Jan 2005 — Sep 2016

Aerosol Size

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.

Atmosphere

Mission: Biomes
Article

Mission: Biomes

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 Oct 5, 2000

Land Life

Beysehir and Egirdir
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Beysehir and Egirdir

Two of the largest freshwater lakes in Turkey sit on the Anatolia Plateau.

Published Jan 23, 2020

Image of the Day Land Water

Widespread Melt on the George VI Ice Shelf
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Widespread Melt on the George VI Ice Shelf

In January 2020, a vast area of melt formed on the surface of the ice shelf west of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Published Jan 22, 2020

Image of the Day Snow and Ice

Windblown Ash from Taal Volcano
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Windblown Ash from Taal Volcano

Low-level winds lifted ash lying on and around the volcano after its recent eruption.

Published Jan 22, 2020

Atmosphere Land Volcanoes

Peeking at Penguins: Poop from Space
EO Kids

Peeking at Penguins: Poop from Space

Did you know that satellites can be used to find penguin populations by looking at what they leave behind? EO Kids is discovering more about penguins by looking at their poop from space.

Published Jan 22, 2020 in EO Kids

Etosha Pan Refills
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Etosha Pan Refills

For much of the year, the salt pan is bone dry. But when the wet season brings abundant rains, the large, shallow basin becomes a temporary oasis.

Published Jan 21, 2020

Image of the Day Land Water Drought

East Coast Snow and Lake Erie Color
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East Coast Snow and Lake Erie Color

The white landscape contrasts with the dark and colorful water, which at the time had very little ice cover.

Published Jan 21, 2020

Land Water Unique Imagery

A Decline in Asian Dust
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A Decline in Asian Dust

Changing winds and more vegetation are probably contributing to the trend.

Published Jan 17, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Remote Sensing

Watching Meteors from Space
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Watching Meteors from Space

Astronaut Christina Koch snapped a picture of the Quadrantids in January 2020.

Published Jan 17, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Bermejo River
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Bermejo River

Astronauts captured a striking glimpse of the Andes Mountains, which divide lush forest from the Atacama Desert.

Published Jan 17, 2020

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

The Island Shaped like a Horseshoe
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The Island Shaped like a Horseshoe

Deception Island is one of the only places in the world where ships can sail directly into the center of an active volcano.

Published Jan 17, 2020

Image of the Day Snow and Ice

Tweeting the Extreme Summer Down Under
Earth Matters

Tweeting the Extreme Summer Down Under

More jaw-dropping images of the extreme weather in Australia have come in from astronauts and satellites.

Published Jan 16, 2020 in Earth Matters

Heat Atmosphere

Growth of a Summer Storm
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Growth of a Summer Storm

Afternoon thunderstorms are a typical phenomenon during summer in Western Australia.

Published Jan 16, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Cloud Fraction
Global Maps Feb 2000 — Jan 2020

Cloud Fraction

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.

Atmosphere

2019 Was the Second Warmest Year on Record
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2019 Was the Second Warmest Year on Record

The past five years have been the warmest of the past 140 years.

Published Jan 15, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Water Human Presence Remote Sensing

Flash Flooding in Iran
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Flash Flooding in Iran

In January 2020, three days of heavy rain led to flash floods across provinces in southern Iran.

Published Jan 15, 2020

Water Floods Remote Sensing

Major Dust Storm Sweeps Across Australia
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Major Dust Storm Sweeps Across Australia

Following weeks of smoke, it was dust turning skies odd colors.

Published Jan 14, 2020

Image of the Day Land Drought Fires

Land Surface Temperature
Global Maps Feb 2000 — Jan 2020

Land Surface Temperature

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.

Heat Land

Sulfur Spews from Taal
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Sulfur Spews from Taal

In January 2020, the volcano in the Philippines spewed lava and emitted hazardous amounts of volcanic ash fall and gases.

Published Jan 13, 2020

Image of the Day Volcanoes Remote Sensing

Sandscapes of the Namib Desert
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Sandscapes of the Namib Desert

Sand dunes and outcrops add color and dimension across the Namib Sand Sea.

Published Jan 11, 2020

Image of the Day Land Remote Sensing

Smoky Australian Skies
Earth Matters

Smoky Australian Skies

As satellites track Australian wildfire smoke from above, GLOBE Observer citizen scientists have been keeping tabs on hazy skies from the ground.

Published Jan 10, 2020 in Earth Matters

Atmosphere Heat

The Colorado Rockies
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The Colorado Rockies

An astronaut captured this view of the Front Range, the San Juan Mountains, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Published Jan 10, 2020

Image of the Day Land

Earth at Night
Article

Earth at Night

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

Atmosphere Land Human Presence Remote Sensing

Iceland’s Volcanic Glacier
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Iceland’s Volcanic Glacier

Skeiðarárjökull is known for flooding caused by volcanic eruptions underneath the ice.

Published Jan 10, 2020

Image of the Day Snow and Ice

Fires Ravage Kangaroo Island
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Fires Ravage Kangaroo Island

Nearly one-third of the island appears to have burned.

Published Jan 9, 2020

Land Life Drought Fires

Net Primary Productivity
Global Maps Feb 2000 — Nov 2016

Net Primary Productivity

These maps show the ‘metabolism” of Earth’s plants and trees. Net primary productivity is the difference between the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed during photosynthesis minus the amount released by respiration.

Land Life

Net Radiation
Global Maps Jul 2006 — Dec 2019

Net Radiation

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.

Heat

January Puzzler
Earth Matters

January Puzzler

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 Jan 7, 2020 in Earth Matters

A Day in the Life
Notes from the Field

A Day in the Life

When it comes to getting around in Antarctica, McMurdo Station is like an off road testing facility of continental-sized proportions.

Published Jan 7, 2020 in Notes From the Field

Spotting the Spotted Owl
Article

Spotting the Spotted Owl

Scientists create maps of forest cover to understand where the composition and structure of Pacific Northwest forests are sufficient for the threatened species to nest and roost.

Published Jan 3, 2020

Life Human Presence World of Change

Best of 2019
Article

Best of 2019

2019 brought many memorable events on Planet Earth. Here are a few highlights from around the globe.

Published Dec 20, 2019

Atmosphere Land Water Videos

The Island Named After a Satellite
Article

The Island Named After a Satellite

It measures about half the size of a football field and it is so small that you cannot see it on Google maps. This barren bit of rock off the coast of Canada has an unusual namesake: the Landsat 1 satellite. Hear about the discovery in the words of the woman who found it in satellite imagery.

Published Oct 23, 2019

Land Videos

EO On This Day
Article

EO On This Day

In honor of our 20th anniversary, we offer a selection of some of the most beautiful, newsworthy, interesting, and scientifically important images from the past 20 years — one for each day of the calendar year.

Published Sep 24, 2019

Atmosphere Heat Land Life Water Snow and Ice

Earth — A Photo-Essay
Article

Earth — A Photo-Essay

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 Aug 28, 2019

Atmosphere Land Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing