NASA Earth Observatory - Home
WEBSatellite 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. Atmosphere Land Human Presence Remote Sensing.
Rainforest: Mission: Biomes - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBThe tropical rainforest is a hot, moist biome where it rains all year long. It is known for its dense canopies of vegetation that form three different layers. The top layer or canopy contains giant trees that grow to heights of 75 m (about 250 ft) or more. This layer of vegetation prevents much of the sunlight from reaching the ground.
Temperate Deciduous Forest: Mission: Biomes - NASA Earth …
WEBThe deciduous forest regions are exposed to warm and cold air masses, which cause this area to have four seasons. The temperature varies widely from season to season with cold winters and hot, wet summers. The average yearly temperature is about 10°C. The areas in which deciduous forests are located get about 750 to 1,500 mm of precipitation ...
Tundra: Mission: Biomes - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBDescription. The tundra is the coldest of the biomes. It also receives low amounts of precipitation, making the tundra similar to a desert. Tundra is found in the regions just below the ice caps of the Arctic, extending across North America, to Europe, and Siberia in Asia. Much of Alaska and about half of Canada are in the tundra biome.
The Water Cycle - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBThe Water Cycle. By Steve Graham, Claire Parkinson, and Mous Chahine Design by Robert Simmon October 1, 2010. Viewed from space, one of the most striking features of our home planet is the water, in both liquid and frozen forms, that covers approximately 75% of the Earth’s surface. Geologic evidence suggests that large amounts of water have ...
2021 Continued Earth’s Warming Trend - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBJan 13, 2022 · Global temperatures in 2021 were 0.85 degrees Celsius (1.5 degrees Fahrenheit) above the average for NASA’s baseline period, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). NASA uses the period from 1951-1980 as a baseline to compare how global temperatures change over time. Collectively, the …
Image of the Day - NASA Earth Observatory
WEB4 days ago · Image of the Day Atmosphere Snow and Ice. Receive notifications of our most recent images! climate change, global climate change, global warming, natural hazards, Earth, environment, remote sensing, atmosphere, land processes, oceans, volcanoes, land cover, Earth science data, NASA, environmental processes, Blue Marble, global maps.
Desert: Mission: Biomes - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBDesert biomes are the driest of all the biomes. In fact, the most important characteristic of a desert is that it receives very little rainfall. Most deserts receive less than 300 mm a year compared to rainforests, which receive over 2,000 mm. That means that the desert only gets 10 percent of the rain that a rainforest gets!
Total Rainfall - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBTotal Rainfall. Globally, rain is the main source of fresh water for plants and animals rainfall is essential for life across Earth’s landscapes. In addition to moving tremendous amounts of water through Earth’s atmosphere, rain clouds also move tremendous amounts of energy. When water evaporates from the surface and rises as vapor into the ...
The Eye of Sahara - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBJul 9, 2022 · The Eye of Sahara. July 10, 2020 JPEG. Taken by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station (ISS), this photograph places the Richat Structure—a geologic feature in Mauritania characterized by its concentric rings—in context with the extensive dune fields that surround it. Dubbed “the Eye of Sahara,” the structure has a ...