Scientists are beginning to unravel what comes next, after the ice moves out and vegetation moves in.
Dust clouded the sky in the Tigris–Euphrates basin in December 2024, degrading air quality and snarling travel in the region.
An astronaut photographed the structure of a burgeoning cumulus congestus near the shore of the Persian Gulf.
Published Dec 21, 2024
After being stuck for a second time in nearly four decades, the planet’s current-largest iceberg (A-23A) again floats free.
Published Dec 20, 2024
The December 2024 blaze charred vegetation in the hills of the Southern California coastline.
Published Dec 18, 2024
Arctic air surged across the Great Lakes and dumped feet of lake-effect snow in some locations.
Published Dec 17, 2024Image of the Day Severe Storms Snow and Ice Temperature Extremes
Your challenge is to tell us the location of the satellite image and why it is interesting.
Published Dec 17, 2024
Fueled by warm water in the Indian Ocean, the tropical cyclone caused widespread damage on the small archipelago.
Published Dec 16, 2024
A dam on the Saint-Maurice River transformed the network of lakes and river valleys upstream.
Published Dec 16, 2024
The Cheleken Peninsula and its two parallel spits comprise the hammerhead-like landform that juts into the eastern Caspian Sea.
Published Dec 15, 2024
The onset of autumn reds and yellows was delayed across the country following several unusually warm months.
Published Dec 14, 2024
Accessible to the intrepid boater, Washington state’s northern San Juan Islands include a marine state park with abundant natural beauty and geologic wonders.
Published Dec 13, 2024
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.
Two decades of satellite data show that the most destructive U.S. fires burn in grasslands and shrublands fanned by strong winds.
Published Dec 12, 2024
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
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.
The rugged chain of islands is home to thousands of sheep and known for its white sand beaches.
Published Dec 11, 2024
A lunette dune fringing this dried Australian lake preserves relics from ancient times, while today’s grazing patterns create sharp visible contrasts on the land.
Published Dec 10, 2024
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
Hurricane season in the basin runs from June 1 to November 30.
Published Jul 1, 2024
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
People have developed systems to harvest and store energy from sources such as wind, sunlight, and tidal action. Many of these installations are visible from orbit.
Published May 10, 2024
From ground-level ozone to particulate matter to nitrogen dioxide, an array of gasses and particles can affect the air people breathe, with implications for human health.
Published Apr 8, 2024
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.
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.
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
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.
Warmer-than-average temperatures are showing up locally and globally, with consequences for people, landscapes, and ecosystems.
Published Mar 26, 2024
Whether sparked by lightning, intentional land-clearing, or human-caused accidents, wildland fires are burning longer and more often in some areas as the world warms.
Published Feb 27, 2024
Warmer-than-average temperatures are showing up locally and globally, with consequences for people, landscapes, and ecosystems.
Published Aug 15, 2023
