Recent Features
Science for a Hungry World Podcasts
September 23, 2009
NASA satellite remote sensing data provide the world with essential information that enables government organizations to feed the hungry, policymakers to make informed decisions, and aid organizations to provide relief.
Perspectives: Why EOS Matters, 10 years later
September 8, 2009
Nearly a decade ago, ecologist Steve Running described how NASA’s Earth Observing System missions were going to help us answer this crucial question: Is the current human occupancy and activity of planet Earth sustainable? In 2009, he revisited the question, making the case that Earth-observing satellites are more important than ever as humanity begins to deal with a changing climate.
Catalog of Earth Satellite Orbits
September 4, 2009
Different orbits give satellites different vantage points for viewing Earth. This fact sheet describes the common Earth satellite orbits and some of the challenges of maintaining them.
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From the Archives
- Polar Wind Data Blow New Life Into Forecasts
January 11, 2005
Where real-world weather observations are scarce, scientists are estimating winds by tracking the movement of clouds and water vapor between consecutive Terra and Aqua satellite images. In a new Earthsky podcast, atmospheric scientist Jeff Key talks about how the technique has improved forecasts and what will happen when these NASA missions reach their end.
- Showdown in the Rio Grande
July 22, 2002
ASTER satellite images have been used to find and track infestations of water hyacinths in the Rio Grande in Texas, as well as to monitor the success of plant eradication techniques.
- Why EOS Matters, 1999
December 17, 1999
Nearly a decade ago, ecologist Steve Running described how NASA’s Earth Observing System missions were going to help us answer this crucial question: Is the current human occupancy and activity of planet Earth sustainable?
Most Popular
- Cities at Night: The View from Space
April 22, 2008
Astronauts onboard the International Space Station capture nighttime photographs of city lights, spectacular evidence of humanity's existence, our distribution, and our ability to change our environment.
- Global Warming
May 21, 2007
Global warming is happening now, and scientists are very confident that greenhouse gases are responsible. This article explains what global warming is, how scientists know it's happening, and how they predict future climate.
- Tropical Deforestation
March 30, 2007
Tropical forests are home to half the Earth's species, and their trees are an immense standing reservoir of carbon. Deforestation will have increasingly serious consequences for biodiversity, humans, and climate.
- Hurricanes: The Greatest Storms on Earth
November 1, 2006
Few things in nature can compare to the destructive force of a hurricane. Called the greatest storm on Earth, a hurricane is capable of annihilating coastal areas with sustained winds of 155 mph or higher and intense areas of rainfall and a storm surge. In fact, during its life cycle a hurricane can expend as much energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs!
- How on Earth was this Image Made?
March 25, 2003
Remotely sensed Earth observations can include everything from sonar measurements used to map the topography of the ocean floor to satellite-based observations of city lights. Combining observations collected by a variety of instruments at different times and places allow scientists to create an otherwise impossible view of the Earth, showing underwater mountain ranges, cloud-free skies, and city lights that are brighter than daylight. Such visualizations are invaluable for interpreting complex data and communicating scientific concepts.