NASA satellites and sensors constantly take the pulse of our planet, measuring how Earth changes by the day, season, year, and decade. Researchers and resource managers analyze those measurements and apply them on local and regional scales to better manage things like our food and water supplies, health, safety, land use, and ecosystems. NASA data is also used by other government agencies to help with responses to natural disasters and emergencies around the country and the world.
Brazilian researchers are using satellites to calculate how many cattle can be supported by the country's pasturelands.
Published Mar 12, 2019
Fluctuations in rainfall are reducing the ability to sustain cattle on grazing lands.
Published Feb 22, 2019
The hurricane took a disproportionate toll on power supplies in remote areas of Puerto Rico.
Published Dec 12, 2018Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms Human Presence
Farms and feedlots are a key source of the pollutant.
Published Dec 10, 2018
A NASA project is providing maps of satellite data to emergency response teams during the Woolsey Fire.
Published Nov 16, 2018
A new experimental model that relies on data from NOAA and NASA satellites has proven remarkably good at simulating the behavior of wildfire smoke.
Published Nov 6, 2018
Environmental variables detected by satellites can help reduce collisions between ships and blue whales.
Published Nov 1, 2018
A NASA team was able to use satellite imagery to observe effects of a repair of Los Angeles' largest wastewater treatment plant.
Published Oct 30, 2018
A project using NASA satellite data helps reduce overwatering and enhances crop yields for Pakistani farmers.
Published Oct 18, 2018
The GEOGLAM Crop Monitor for Early Warning provides science-driven alerts for countries that may be in danger of low crop yields.
Published Oct 5, 2018
Economists are using satellite data to help make more accurate price predictions of important crops.
Published Sep 20, 2018
Sandy beaches are growing in some parts of the world and shrinking quickly in others, including one-third of marine protected areas.
Published Aug 2, 2018
Water shortages in the Middle East lead to sanitation issues in schools, resulting in periodic school closures. NASA is working to change that.
Published Jul 27, 2018
Long overlooked, it is increasingly clear that streams and rivers play a key role in the carbon cycle.
Published Jul 20, 2018
A new map of the world’s rivers and their widths shows that surface waterways are collectively wider and cover more area than previously thought.
Published Jul 18, 2018
Using Landsat to track patterns in irrigation may help water managers sketch out a more sustainable future for the Ogallala Aquifer in the central United States.
Published Jul 9, 2018
The amount of water contained in the top few centimeters of soil is small on a global scale, but it is critical for agriculture analysts trying to monitor commodity production and humanitarian need.
Published Jun 2, 2018
Risk maps can help land managers make more informed decisions about modern development in the vicinity of an ancient civilization.
Published Jun 1, 2018
Volcanic plumes can pose health hazards and offer clues about a volcano’s geology.
Published May 15, 2018
The eruption at one of Hawaii’s most active volcanoes has taken a turn for the worse.
Published May 8, 2018
A multi-year drought, a growing population, and management choices have put the city’s water supply in a precarious position.
Published Jan 29, 2018
Satellites can help inform predictions of harmful algae blooms off California.
Published Jan 18, 2018
Increasing numbers of Vibrio infections could be a direct consequence of dramatic ocean warming over the past few decades.
Published Jan 17, 2018
Understanding the chemical precursors of ground-level ozone may make it easier to prevent the pollutant from building up in the lower atmosphere.
Published Nov 7, 2017
Hillslope-scale erosion maps helped response teams decide how and where to focus recovery efforts following the Soberanes fire in California.
Published Aug 18, 2017
Aggressive phragmites can threaten native salt marsh vegetation.
Published Aug 2, 2017
Hail pummeled a long stretch of crops in South Dakota in June.
Published Jul 19, 2017
Changing patterns of nighttime lights are of great interest to demographers, engineers, and humanitarian relief organizations.
Published May 16, 2017
By removing natural and stray light sources, researchers get a clearer picture of the human footprint on Earth.
Published Apr 13, 2017Image of the Day Fires Unique Imagery Human Presence Remote Sensing
Peru’s intense fire season in 2016 saw burning extend into 11 of the country’s protected areas.
Published Feb 10, 2017
