Ice cores and satellite images are helping preserve the history of a disappearing ice cap in the Peruvian Andes.
Both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific basins were unusually active in 2023—and some storms had unpredictable bouts of rapid intensification.
Snow lingered on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa after a storm brought copious precipitation to the island chain.
Published Dec 6, 2023Image of the Day Severe Storms Snow and Ice Temperature Extremes
A warm, moisture-laden weather system soaked western Washington and Oregon.
Published Dec 5, 2023Image of the Day Atmosphere Severe Storms Temperature Extremes
The tropical cyclone caused widespread flooding and crop damage in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Published Dec 5, 2023
This small, unimposing volcano between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra has a destructive past.
Published Dec 4, 2023
Erta Ale, in the East African Rift, is Ethiopia’s most active volcano.
Published Dec 4, 2023
Water-carved canyons and wind-sculpted dunes adorn the desert landscape.
Published Dec 3, 2023
Storms brought flooding to Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in November 2023, continuing a trend of wet weather in the region.
Published Dec 1, 2023
Stuck on the seafloor for decades, Iceberg A-23A now freely drifts northward toward warmer, iceberg-destroying waters.
Published Dec 1, 2023
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
Many cities have shortages of air quality monitors. NASA scientists have developed a tool called GEOS-CF that can help.
Published Nov 30, 2023
The fiery and icy upper reaches of the Antarctic volcano pierced through a canopy of clouds.
Published Nov 29, 2023
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.
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 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.
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
A winter storm plowed across several U.S. states after Thanksgiving.
Published Nov 27, 2023Image of the Day Severe Storms Human Presence Temperature Extremes
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 Nov 20, 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.
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
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
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
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
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.
