Two decades of satellite measurements show that the sea surface is shading toward green.
In September, low water levels made it more challenging to ship goods down the river and allowed a wedge of saltwater to move upstream.
Intertidal flats, mangroves, and artificial islands surround the populous capital city of the United Arab Emirates.
Published Oct 3, 2023
After passing the Antarctic Peninsula, Iceberg D-30A grazed the much smaller Clarence Island, spun around, and drifted north.
Published Sep 30, 2023
Dust from the ephemeral Hamun wetlands streamed over parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in September.
Published Sep 27, 2023
Satellite data shows that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 19, 2023.
Published Sep 26, 2023
Satellite data shows that Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest maximum extent on record on September 10, 2023.
Published Sep 26, 2023Image of the Day Unique Imagery Snow and Ice Sea and Lake Ice
Scientists have some ideas about what might have caused a thin arc that spanned a fjord in Western Greenland.
Published Sep 26, 2023
Cities and towns darkened after a cyclone unleashed torrential flooding along the country’s coast.
Published Sep 25, 2023
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
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.
Southeastern Ethiopia’s longest river supports the growth of green vegetation amid the otherwise brown, desert landscape.
Published Sep 24, 2023
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.
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
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
Teams monitor weather and ground conditions in Utah’s West Desert, where a capsule containing a piece of space rock is expected to land.
Published Sep 23, 2023
Intense fires and a passing cold front led to the sprawling feature.
Published Sep 22, 2023
Flash floods in the port city destroyed roads and swept neighborhoods out to sea.
Published Sep 20, 2023
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 tell us the location of the satellite image and why it is interesting.
Published Sep 19, 2023
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.
Scientists returned to central Alaska's boreal forests to measure plant activity during the peak of summer.
Published Sep 12, 2023
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
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.
Warmer-than-average temperatures are showing up locally and globally, with consequences for people, landscapes, and ecosystems.
Published Aug 15, 2023
The 2023 season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity generally occurring in September.
Published Jun 1, 2023
Wildland fires in 2023 brought hazy skies and poor air quality to several countries north of the equator.
Published May 22, 2023
From soil conditions to crop productivity, satellite data help inform farmers, scientists, and decision-makers in the U.S. and around the world.
Published Feb 28, 2023
Over the years, astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory have snapped spectacular photographs of Earth’s snow and ice in both hemispheres.
Published Dec 21, 2022
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.
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.
In honor of our site anniversary, we offer a selection of some of the most beautiful, newsworthy, interesting, and scientifically important images from 23 years online — one image for each day of the calendar year.
Published Apr 26, 2022
