Wildland fires in 2023 brought hazy skies and poor air quality to several countries north of the equator.
Fierce fires in Canada are the source of smoke that has swirled across much of the continent.
The shallow waters of hook-shaped Notsuke Peninsula shelter sea grass and shrimp in eastern Hokkaido.
Published May 29, 2023
Sunrise is an opportune time to photograph fog as it rolls through the mountain range.
Published May 28, 2023
Fieldwork in interior Alaska aimed to identify when evergreen trees resumed growth and started taking up carbon.
Published May 27, 2023
The category 4 storm was one of the strongest in decades to lash the U.S. territory of Guam.
Published May 24, 2023
Rapid thawing in Alaska caused damaging river floods in May 2023.
Published May 23, 2023
Unseasonable heat and meager rainfall parched the world’s largest olive oil producing region in spring 2023.
Published May 22, 2023Image of the Day Heat Land Drought Human Presence Remote Sensing Temperature Extremes
A national park and a dune field occupy part of this bright-white desert landscape, which also has ties to the aerospace industry.
Published May 21, 2023
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.
Toxic blooms are becoming more frequent in Chile’s Lake Villarrica.
Published May 19, 2023
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.
Decades of retreat are visible from above, but harder-to-see changes below the waterline could also affect this iconic glacier’s future.
Published May 19, 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
Satellite observations of seepweed are helping scientists track how these treasured, colorful plants are faring as coastal landscapes in northeastern China change.
Published May 19, 2023
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.
Scientists traveled to Alaska to identify the start of evergreen trees' growing season—an important indicator of a forest’s productivity.
Published May 18, 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.
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
Record-breaking heat stifled western U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Published May 17, 2023Image of the Day Heat Land Human Presence Temperature Extremes
Smoke from wildland fires caused poor air quality and hazy skies in several cities.
Published May 16, 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
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
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 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
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 Earth’s landscapes. Satellites take leaf-peeping to a whole new level.
Published Oct 26, 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.
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
