Earth Observation

Climate modeling is a crucial tool that can inform decision-making where billions of dollars — and often public health and safety — are at stake. An expert panel finds significant gaps in U.S. climate modeling infrastructure and outlines a national strategy to help unify climate-modeling efforts and advance the country’s ability to anticipate future change.

Edward Dunlea and Chris Bretherton, posted on March 5th, 2013
Climate, Earth Observation, Featured Article

NASA Probe Locates Earth’s Third Radiation Belt

- NASA’s twin Van Allen Probes, robotic satellites launched last August, have now revealed a previously unknown third radiation belt around the Earth.

Posted on March 4th, 2013
Earth Observation, Technology

New ISS Eyes See Rio San Pablo

Originally Published by NASA Earth Observatory - ISERV Pathfinder camera system may eventually provide needed Earth observations to developing countries.

Posted on March 3rd, 2013
Earth Observation, Ecosystems

NASA Eyes Declining Vegetation in the Eastern United States from 2000 to 2010

Originally Published by Earth Today - NASA scientists report that warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation locally and regionally have altered the growth of large forest areas in the eastern United States over the past 10 years.

Posted on February 27th, 2013
Earth Observation, Ecosystems

Tiny CREPT Instrument to Study the Radiation Belts

Originally Published by Space Daily - A smaller version of an instrument now flying on NASA's Van Allen Probes has won a coveted spot aboard an upcoming NASA-sponsored Cubesat mission - the perfect platform for this pint-size, solid-state telescope.

Posted on February 24th, 2013
Earth Observation, Technology

On the Successful Launch of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission

The latest Landsat satellite is now in orbit, following its successful separation from the Atlas V booster. The project will gather data on energy and water management, forest monitoring, human and environmental health, urban planning, disaster recovery and agriculture.

John Holden, posted on February 23rd, 2013
Earth Observation, Quick Look, Technology

Gypsum on Earth and Mars

- Mexico’s Cuatro Ciénegas Basin has plenty of gypsum and a network of pools full of bacteria that descended from one of the earliest forms of life. The combination makes it one of the best places on Earth to investigate what life might have looked like on Mars.

Posted on February 23rd, 2013
Earth Observation, Would You Believe?

Mount Etna Boils Over As Seen From Space

Originally Published by Earth Today - After maintaining a low simmer for ten months, Italy's Etna volcano boiled over on February 19-20, 2013, with three outbursts in 36 hours.

Posted on February 22nd, 2013
Earth Observation

Chemical Tankers Collide in Gulf of Mexico

- An oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico was averted by the quick action of crew members aboard one of two inbound chemical tankers that collided on Wednesday, approximately 70 miles south of Galveston, Texas.

Posted on February 22nd, 2013
Oceans

Criss-Crossing Contrails

Originally Published by NASA Earth Observatory - When viewed from space, clusters of airplane contrails make distinctive geometrical patterns. Scientists are using satellite detections of contrails to sort out how the long, narrow cirrus clouds impact our climate system.