NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Earth Observatory

NASA News

  1. Report Calls Aerosol Research Key to Improving Climate Predictions January 16

    Scientists need a more detailed understanding of how human-produced atmospheric particles, called aerosols, affect climate in order to produce better predictions of Earth's future climate, according to a NASA-led report.

  2. NASA Debuts Global Hawk Autonomous Aircraft for Earth Science January 15

    NASA and the Northrop Grumman Corp. of Los Angeles have unveiled the first Global Hawk aircraft system to be used for environmental science research, heralding a new application for the world's first fully autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft.

  3. NASA Climate Scientist Honored by American Meteorological Society January 14

    Dr. James Hansen has been awarded the Rossby Research Medal by the American Meteorological Society for contributions to climate science and science communication.

  4. The Human Factor: Understanding the Sources of Rising Carbon Dioxide January 13

    Every time we get into our car, turn the key and drive somewhere, we burn gasoline, a fossil fuel derived from crude oil.

  5. S'COOL Kids Still Have Their Heads in the Clouds for NASA Science January 12

    For 12 years, elementary school students have helped NASA scientists verify satellite measurements of the atmosphere.

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Research Highlights

  1. Global Distribution of Atmospheric Phosphorus Sources, Concentrations and Deposition Rates, and Anthropogenic Impacts, Mahowald, N., et al., Global Biogeochemical Cycles, December 31, 2008 (Vol. 22, GB4026, doi:10.1029/2008GB003240)

  2. Changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation Influence CO2 Uptake in the North Atlantic Over the Past 2 Decades, Thomas, H., A. E. Friederike Prowe, I. D. Lima, S. C. Doney, R. Wanninkhof, R. J. Greatbatch, U. Schuster, and A. Corbière, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, December 31, 2008 (Vol. 22, GB4027, doi:10.1029/2007GB003167)

  3. Scale Effect on Statistics of the Macrophysical Properties of Trade Wind Cumuli Over the Tropical Western Atlantic During RICO, Dey, S., L. Di Girolamo, and G. Zhao, Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres, December 31, 2008 (Vol. 113, D24214, doi:10.1029/2008JD010295)

  4. Aerosol Relationships to Warm Season Clouds and Rainfall at Monthly Scales Over East China: Urban Land Versus Ocean, Jin, M., and J. M. Shepherd, Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres, December 31, 2008 (Vol. 113, D24S90, doi:10.1029/2008JD010276)

  5. Spatial and Temporal Rainfall Variability Near the Amazon-Tapajós Confluence, Fitzjarrald, D. R., R. K. Sakai, O. L. L. Moraes, R. Cosme de Oliveira, O. C. Acevedo, M. J. Czikowsky, and T. Beldini, Journal of Geophysical Research – Biogeosciences, December 31, 2008 (Vol. 113, G00B11, doi:10.1029/2007JG000596)

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Headlines

  1. Why Mountains are Bad for the Ozone Layer
    January 4

    Airflows above mountains create rare clouds that act as reaction sites for the chlorofluorocarbons that eat ozone. (New Scientist) more...

  2. Coral Reef Growth is Slowest Ever
    January 2

    Coral growth in Australia's Great Barrier Reef has slowed to its most sluggish rate in the past 400 years. (BBC News) more...

  3. Ancient Earth Was a Barren Waterworld
    December 30

    Calculations suggest that Earth was a water-world until about 2.5 billion years ago, with land making up only 2 to 3 percent of its surface. (New Scientist) more...

  4. Scientists Eye Unusual Swarm of Yellowstone Quakes
    December 29

    Yellowstone National Park was jostled by a host of small earthquakes for a third straight day, and scientists watched closely to see whether the more than 250 tremors were a sign of something bigger to come. (ABC News) more...

  5. American Shores Face Threat of Rising Sea Level
    December 26

    A recent report released by the U.S. Geological Survey projects abrupt climactic shifts, including a more rapid climate change with global sea level increases of up to 4 feet by the year 2100 and arid climatic shifts in the North American Southwest by mid-century. (ABC News) more...

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Media Alerts

  1. Trapped Water Cause of Regular Tremors Under Vancouver Island December 31

    Researchers are offering the first compelling evidence to explain regular tremors under Vancouver Island. (University of British Columbia press release)

  2. Stronger Coastal Winds Due to Climate Change May Have Far-Reaching Effects December 19

    Future increases in wind strength along the California coast may have far-reaching effects, including more intense upwelling of cold water along the coast early in the season and increased fire danger in Southern California, according to researchers. (University of California - Santa Cruz press release)

  3. Abrupt Climate Shifts May Come Sooner, Not Later December 19

    The United States could suffer the effects of abrupt climate changes within decades - sooner than some previously thought - says a new government report. (The Earth Institute at Columbia University press release)

  4. CAT Scan Reveals Inner Workings of Volcano Island December 19

    On the ground and in the water, an international team of researchers has been collecting imaging data on the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat to understand the internal structure of the volcano and how and when it erupts. (Penn State press release)

  5. Lifecycles of Tropical Cyclones Predicted in Global Computer Model December 18

    The initial results of the first computer model that simulates the global atmosphere with a detailed representation of individual clouds have been analyzed by a team of scientists. (University of Hawaii at Manoa press release)

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