SeaWiFS Sensor Marks Five Years Documenting Earth's Dynamic Biosphere
July 31 — In the last five years, scientists have been able to monitor our changing planet in ways never before possible. The Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS), aboard the OrbView-2 satellite, has given researchers an unprecedented view of the biological engine that drives life on Earth -- the countless forms of plants that cover the land and fill the oceans. More

At Five-Year Anniversary, Conference Considers Satellite's Contributions to Understanding Global Energy, Water Cycle
July 24 — The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite is approaching its fifth year of operation, surpassing its original life expectancy by two years and providing scientists valuable insight into such questions as why hurricanes sometimes suddenly intensify and the implications of tropical rainfall for the world's overall climate. More

Celebrating 30 Years of Imaging the Earth
July 22 — On July 23, 1972, NASA launched the first Landsat satellite, beginning the longest-running record of Earth's continental surfaces as seen from space -- a record unmatched in quality, detail, coverage and importance. This 30-year archive of imagery, a scientific partnership between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provides invaluable historical detail that helps us understand and protect our home planet. More

Looking at Clouds From All Sides Now
July 16 — NASA-led research of cirrus clouds by more than 450 scientists could lead to improved forecasts of future climate change -- forecasts of your weather today, tomorrow and years into the future. More

NOAA-17 Instruments Deployed Successfully; NASA Turns Satellite Over to NOAA
July 14 — The nation's newest polar-orbiting environmental satellite, NOAA-17, was turned over to the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on July 14. More

Sharp New NASA Maps to Improve Lives Everywhere
July 11 — People around the world will soon get to see their home planet in an entirely new way, as NASA extends the release of detailed topographical maps collected during the 2000 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission beyond U.S. borders to the rest of the globe. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the mission for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise. More

Satellite Sees Double Zones of Converging Tropical Winds Around the World
July 9 — NASA's QuikSCAT satellite has confirmed a 30-year old largely unproven theory that there are two areas near the equator where the winds converge year after year and drive ocean circulation south of the equator. By analyzing winds, QuikSCAT has found a year-round southern and northern Intertropical Convergence Zone. This find is important to climate modelers and weather forecasters because it provides more detail on how the oceans and atmosphere interact near the equator. More

Measuring Earthshine: How New Terra Data are Improving Weather and Climate Forecast Models
July 9 — A sensor aboard NASA’s Terra satellite is helping scientists map how much sunlight the Earth’s surface reflects back up into the atmosphere, and this new detailed information should help to greatly improve weather and forecast models. More

Pathfinder Missions to Enhance Our Understanding of Earth
July 9 — As part of the Earth System Science Pathfinder small-satellite program, NASA has selected two new space mission proposals that will yield fresh insight into our home planet's carbon cycle and how oceans affect and respond to climate change. More

NASA-Funded Scientists Join Others to Explore Tropical Rainforests
July 8 — NASA-funded scientists and others from around the world are gathering in Brazil at an international conference to discuss research and discoveries of how the Amazon ecosystem works. More

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