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.
The lack of rainfall and other environmental factors have taken a toll on the region’s vegetation and agricultural production, leaving many in the region facing severe hunger.
For decades, scientists have been tracking extreme thunderstorms created by wildfires. However, the ferocity of the storms that have popped up in Canada in 2021 has surprised them.
Published Jul 29, 2021
Those mountains have seen less snow accumulation in recent years, a decline that plays a role in water management and response to drought.
Published Jul 29, 2021
The largest fire in California in 2021 has been burning for two weeks near the city of Chico and Lassen National Forest.
Published Jul 27, 2021
Ever-warmer summers are among the challenges confronting athletes competing in the Olympic Games.
Published Jul 27, 2021
A slow-moving rainstorm overwhelmed rivers and reservoirs, leading to deadly flooding in the province of Henan.
Published Jul 26, 2021Image of the Day Land Water Floods Severe Storms Human Presence
Fogo is part of an active stratovolcano with a turbulent history.
Published Jul 26, 2021
A modern term of geography was born in Turkey.
Published Jul 24, 2021
There are a few possible reasons why the phytoplankton-rich waters of this high-latitude sea appear both green and turquoise blue.
Published Jul 23, 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.
Tour the Australian state’s diverse landscapes and waterscapes.
Published Jul 22, 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
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.
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
Skies turned hazy from Pittsburgh to Washington to Boston, as smoke from fires in Canada poured into the U.S. Northeast.
Published Jul 21, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing
Flash floods have devastated several communities in Germany, Belgium, and The Netherlands.
Published Jul 19, 2021
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.
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.
Hot, dry, and windy conditions continue to fan the flames of the largest fire currently burning in the United States.
Published Jul 19, 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
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 Jul 13, 2021 in Earth Matters
Using satellites, aircraft, and computer models, NASA can aid farmers, reservoir managers, and decision makers as they monitor water needs.
Published Jul 13, 2021 in Earth Matters
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
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
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
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.
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.
