The broad perspective from satellites shows the landscapes and seascapes surrounding some of the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest waves.
After buffeting Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Bermuda, the hurricane appeared destined to be one of the strongest storms to ever reach the Canadian Maritimes.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Water Severe Storms Remote Sensing
Four days after Hurricane Fiona made landfall on the island, citizens were coping with widespread power losses.
Published Sep 22, 2022Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing
On the final day of summer, much of the region’s vegetation had already turned from green to autumnal brown and gold.
Published Sep 22, 2022
The underwater volcano has again created a small island.
Published Sep 20, 2022
Fiona and Nanmadol dropped several feet of rain on the islands on opposite sides of the world.
Published Sep 19, 2022
A significant disparity in tree cover across urban neighborhoods leads to differences in temperatures and health outcomes.
Published Sep 19, 2022
A lake at the summit of the volcano provides the main clues to what is happening below.
Published Sep 18, 2022
Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa are among the oldest on Earth, with unique traits that come with age.
Published Sep 17, 2022
New climate research shows where to expect hot and humid heat waves in the United States in the coming decades.
Published Sep 16, 2022
The category 2 storm came ashore near China’s largest metropolitan area and several of the world’s major shipping ports.
Published Sep 14, 2022Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Severe Storms Human Presence
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.
The southern Amazon has become a hotspot of fire activity as roads, cattle, crops, and people replace the rainforest.
Published Sep 12, 2022Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing
Smoke from fires in Washington and Oregon blanketed Puget Sound and wafted out over the Pacific Ocean.
Published Sep 12, 2022
Though summer is approaching its calendar end, the scorching weather of the 2022 season has left many forests primed to burn.
Published Sep 9, 2022Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires Remote Sensing
Indigenous representatives from across the Amazon met with geographers seeking to better understand how climate change is affecting the region.
Published Sep 7, 2022
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.
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.
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 document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
In August, scientists returned to the field to measure tundra plants during the peak of summer growth.
Published Aug 31, 2022
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
These maps depict anomalies in land surface temperatures (LSTs); that is, how much hotter or cooler a region was compared to the long-term average. LST anomalies can indicate heat waves or cold spells.
For the third time in a decade, the winner hails from the Canary Islands.
Published Mar 1, 2022
As green chlorophyll fades from trees and plants each autumn, other pigments color the Earth’s landscapes. Satellites take leaf-peeping to a whole new level.
Published Oct 26, 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
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
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.
Published Jul 22, 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.
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.
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
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
