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.
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.
Grassland: Mission: Biomes - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBGrasslands are generally open and continuous, fairly flat areas of grass. They are often located between temperate forests at high latitudes and deserts at subtropical latitudes. Grasses vary in size from 2.1 m (7 ft) tall with roots extending down into the soil 1.8 m (6 ft), to the short grasses growing to a height of only 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 ...
Temperature and Precipitation Graphs - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBclimate change, global climate change, global warming, natural hazards, Earth, environment, remote sensing, atmosphere, land processes, oceans, volcanoes, land cover ...
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!
Catalog of Earth Satellite Orbits - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBTwo medium Earth orbits are notable: the semi-synchronous orbit and the Molniya orbit. The semi-synchronous orbit is a near-circular orbit (low eccentricity) 26,560 kilometers from the center of the Earth (about 20,200 kilometers above the surface). A satellite at this height takes 12 hours to complete an orbit.
Global Maps - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBThese 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. Atmosphere. Global Maps Mar 2000 — May 2024.
Collection - Earth at Night - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBJul 27, 2024 · The super typhoon reached extreme intensity earlier in the year than any storm in the satellite era. 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.
World of Change: Global Temperatures - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBAccording to an ongoing temperature analysis led by scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), the average global temperature on Earth has increased by at least 1.1° Celsius (1.9° Fahrenheit) since 1880. The majority of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15 to 0.20°C per decade.
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