From their home on the International Space Station, astronauts have a view unlike anything most of us will ever see. Over 20 years, they have shot millions of photographs of Earth, and it is not just a hobby. It is an important scientific job, and one they need to be trained to do. Learn more about the challenges of watching Earth from above.
A crack on the Antarctic ice shelf grew dramatically in late 2020 into 2021.
Cleveland’s urban layout has evolved as time and technology have advanced.
Published Jan 17, 2021
Multiple seasons of below-average rainfall have affected the country’s drinking water supplies and groundwater reservoirs.
Published Jan 16, 2021
Earth’s average temperature has risen more than 1.2°C (2°F) since the late 19th century.
Published Jan 14, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Remote Sensing World of Change Temperature Extremes
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 13, 2021 in Earth Matters
Central America experienced one of its most intense hurricane season in years, leading to widespread degradation to coastal environments.
Published Jan 13, 2021
Seawater has been cutting like a knife through an enormous Antarctic iceberg afloat in the southern Atlantic Ocean.
Published Jan 13, 2021
The lack of snow cover in December left Japan’s iconic mountain looking a little different than usual.
Published Jan 12, 2021Image of the Day Heat Land Severe Storms Snow and Ice Remote Sensing
Meteorologists declared it the largest snowfall in the region since 1971.
Published Jan 11, 2021
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
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.
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.
Sea level rise and new development are on a collision course in South Carolina lowcountry.
Published Jan 11, 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
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.
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.
Uninhabited Atlasov Island rises above the clouds and the Sea of Okhotsk.
Published Jan 10, 2021
In spring and summer, conditions are often just right for populations of the plant-like organisms explode into enormous blooms.
Published Jan 8, 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
Water that had pooled in the crater since 2019 quickly boiled off during an eruption that began in December 2020.
Published Jan 7, 2021
Ash and gas emissions continue from one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes.
Published Jan 6, 2021
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 Dec 30, 2020 in Earth Matters
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
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 Oct 20, 2020
A race is on to figure out whether COVID-19 will wax and wane with the seasons. Atmospheric and hydrologic models produced by NASA and other institutions may be key to that research.
Published Jul 14, 2020
A few decades ago, the idea of predicting a disease outbreak via satellite was science fiction. But today, researchers can use environmental data to predict when and where some diseases are likely to spread.
Published Jul 9, 2020
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.
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
NASA satellites and sensors constantly take the pulse of our planet. Researchers apply those observations on local and regional scales to better manage things like food and water supplies, health, safety, land use, and ecosystems.
Published May 1, 2020
