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GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE NASA'S eyes on the Earth

Bleached coral

Climate Change Seeps into the Sea

Scientists hope a new NASA mission will help them better understand how the Earth's oceans swallow a bitter pill known as carbon dioxide.

Read more | Global Climate Change site

 

EARTH IMAGES from the JPL Photojournal

Satellite images of deforestation in Brazil

Mato Grosso, Brazil

Dense green vegetation gives way to pale fields in these satellite images of deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. The image on the left, from 1992, shows the beginning of agricultural development in a region of the southwestern state of Mato Grosso. On the right is the same area in 2006.

Full caption and image | More Earth images

Earth Observing Missions

Active Cavity Irradiance Monitor Satellite
Monitors total sun energy that reaches Earth.
Instrument home page

Atmospheric Infrared Sounder on Aqua satellite
Measures air and surface temperature, clouds, humidity.
Instrument home page

Microwave Limb Sounder on Aura satellite
Improves understanding of ozone and precursors.
Mission home page

Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer on Aura satellite
Observes ozone and gases in the troposphere, the part of atmosphere where we live.
Instrument home page

CloudSat
Revealing the inner secrets of clouds.
Mission home page

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
Measures Earth's gravitational field.
Mission home page

Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2
A follow-on to Jason 1, this mission charts sea level, and its data will help improve climate and weather forecasts.
Mission home page

Jason-1
Measures ocean level changes and El Niño.
Mission home page

Quick Scatterometer
Measures ocean surface winds.
Mission home page

Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer on Terra satellite
Takes high-resolution images, global and local.
Instrument home page

Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer on Terra satellite
Images Earth and aerosols from nine angles.
Instrument home page

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
Acquired the most complete near global mapping of Earth's topography.
Mission home page

artist concept of QuikScat NASA's Quikscat Ocean-Observing Satellite Mission Honored

The Earth-observing satellite has been recognized for helping scientists better understand our home planet.

Read more (Nov. 18)

Byrd Glacier, Antarctica JPL Instrument Observes Changes in Big Antarctic Glacier

JPL satellite data have helped scientists crack the case of a speeding Antarctic glacier. Understanding glacial flow processes can improve sea level forecasts.

Univ. of Maine release (Nov. 17)

distribution of atmospheric water vapor Water Vapor Doubles Carbon Dioxide's Warming Effect

A JPL instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite has helped researchers estimate more precisely than ever before the heat-trapping effect of water in the air.

NASA story (Nov. 17)

WhatsUpDec08-th.jpg What's Up for December

December will be a fantastic time to see the solar system from your own back yard.

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earthquake destruction Lecture series: The Great Southern California Shake Out

Local earthquake scientist Lucy Jones assesses earthquake risks and discuss ongoing steps to prepare for major quakes.

Go to archived webcast

Earthquake Studies

NASA uses space-based technologies, ground-based techniques and complex computer models to learn more about quakes in California.

Go to interactive