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Geosphere

Measuring the Earth’s surface and interior to better understand our home planet

Mission

Geosphere studies processes and changes in the Earth’s core, mantle, and crust along with surface topography, composition, and geology, as well as the hazards they generate. Geosphere relies on essential measurements including InSAR, GNSS, lidar, gravity, optical, thermal, and hyperspectral observations.

Overview
Research Drivers
Funded Research Opportunities
Research Areas
Research Data
Missions and Campaigns
Public Events
Collaborations
Contacts
Geosphere Peer-Reviewed Publications

Geosphere News

5 min read

New NASA Sensor Goes Hunting for Critical Minerals

Article2 months ago
6 min read

A Hot and Fiery Decade for Kīlauea

Article2 months ago
The NISAR satellite uses a radar antenna reflector that's 39 feet (12 meters) in diameter to gather information about Earth's changing surface. The mission scans nearly all the planet's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days.

NASA-ISRO Mission on Track to Start Delivering Science

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6 min read

5 Things to Know About Powerful New U.S.-India Satellite, NISAR

Article7 months ago
6 min read

Meet Mineral Mappers Flying NASA Tech Out West

Article7 months ago
5 min read

NASA Satellite Images Could Provide Early Volcano Warnings 

Article9 months ago
4 min read

NASA Aims to Fly First Quantum Sensor for Gravity Measurements

Article10 months ago
5 min read

NASA-Led Study Pinpoints Areas Sinking, Rising Along California Coast

Article12 months ago

Overview

Geosphere uses NASA's unique capabilities and observational resources to better understand the structure and dynamics of the core, mantle, and lithosphere, and interactions between these processes and Earth’s fluid envelopes. These dynamics are intricately linked with the Earth’s system components and interface with Earth system global cycles. 

Geosphere comprises three primary components: Crustal Dynamics, Earth Interior, and Earth Surface Properties. Crustal Dynamics seeks to advance our fundamental understanding of land surface deformation and change as driven by natural and anthropogenic mechanisms such as tectonics, gravity, and subsurface fluid flow. This research further informs the assessment, mitigation, and forecasting of natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions, along with hazards related to human activities such as land subsidence. Earth Interior studies explore the underlying driving forces for Earth’s magnetic field, plate tectonics, and other core, mantle, and lithospheric processes observed at the surface or through geopotential fields. Earth Surface Properties uses spectrometry and visible to near infrared and thermal infrared data to characterize surface mineralogy and measure thermal and chemical features. This research advances discovery and management of natural resources and critical minerals, provides insights into geomorphic processes, and advances understanding of geohazards such as landslides and volcanoes. 

The Core Science Questions Driving NASA's Geosphere Research

  • How do magmatic systems evolve, under what conditions do volcanoes erupt, and how do eruptions and volcano hazards develop? 

  • What are the dynamics of Earth’s deep interior and how does Earth’s surface respond? 

  • What are the dynamics of Earth’s magnetic field and its interactions with the rest of Earth’s systems? 

  • How do human activities impact and interact with Earth’s surface and interior? 

  • What is the nature of deformation associated with plate boundaries and what are the implications for earthquakes, tsunamis, and other related natural hazards? 

  • How does the Geosphere respond to exchange of water among Earth system and what are the larger implications? 

The mineral map shows a part of southwestern Libya, in the Sahara, observed by NASA's EMIT mission.
NASA/JPL-Caltech

Funded Research Opportunities

Solicited program elements relevant to Geosphere are publicized through the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) NASA Research Announcements (NRAs) on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) website. Past, open, and future solicitations can be searched and viewed on NSPIRES.

Past Geosphere Related Solicitations and Selections

Research Areas

  • Crustal Dynamics 

    Crustal Dynamics seeks to advance our fundamental understanding of land surface deformation and change as driven by natural and anthropogenic mechanisms such as tectonics, gravity, and subsurface fluid flow. Crustal Dynamics further informs the assessment, mitigation, and forecasting of natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions, along with hazards related to human activities such as land subsidence. 

    This satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar image-pair shows relative deformation of the Earth's surface when nn April 22-23, 2015, significant explosive eruptions occurred at Calbuco volcano, Chile.
    A satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar image showing relative deformation of the Earth surface during explosive eruptions of the Calbuco volcano in Chile on April 22-23, 2015.
    ESA/NASA/JPL-Caltech

  • Earth Interior 

    Earth Interior studies explore the underlying driving forces for Earth’s magnetic field, plate tectonics, and other core, mantle, and lithospheric processes observed at the surface or through geopotential fields. Earth Interior focuses on sustained observations from space to detect features such as the migration of magma beneath volcanoes, the movement of tectonic plates, land subsidence, and the reshaping of landscapes. 

    A cutaway of the Earth's interior. The convective motion of our planet's liquid outer core is thought to give rise to its dynamo and magnetic field.
    NASA/Scientific Visualization Studio

  • Earth Surface Properties 

    Earth Surface Properties uses spectrometry and visible to near infrared and thermal infrared data to characterize surface mineralogy and measure thermal and chemical features. Earth Surface Properties advances discovery and management of natural resources, provides insights into geomorphic processes, and advances understanding of geohazards such as landslides and volcanoes. 

    Perched on the International Space Station, NASA's EMIT can differentiate between types of vegetation to help researchers understand the distribution and traits of plant communities.
    Data collected by NASA's Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) on April 23, 2024, indicates the location of plant communities across a swath of the mid-Atlantic United States. Overlain on a Google base map, each color represents a different type of natural biome or agricultural land.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech

Geosphere Data Access and Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) 

Missions and Campaigns

  • Missions

    NASA Earth Science missions see Earth from space and enable researchers to monitor and understand our home planet. Missions range from instruments onboard the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth-orbiting satellites that span both large and small (i.e., CubeSats) form factors. NASA’s Earth Science missions often have US or other international partnerships and frequently collect data for 10 or more years. 

    Explore Earth Science Missions

  • Campaigns

    Campaigns use instrumented aircrafts, balloons, ships, and surface networks over land and ocean, to better observe and understand our home planet. Campaigns represent coordinated efforts with intensive observation periods over one or more regions that can last anywhere from weeks to years. These measurements help support missions by providing initial tests of instruments before they are launched to space. Campaigns also provide important measurements to calibrate and validate satellite data in addition to collecting observations in support of related scientific endeavors.

    Explore Earth Science Campaigns

Rocket just rising from the launch pad
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:26 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
NASA Television

Public Events

Upcoming Meetings and Workshops

Select Recent Meetings and Workshops 

Collaborating Organizations

Geosphere Program and Partner Links 

Geosphere Science Teams 

Contacts

Kevin Reath 
Geosphere Associate Program Scientist (ASRC Contractor) 
Crustal Dynamics, Earth Interior, and Earth Surface Properties Research 
Contact | Bio 

Earth Science Division Embeds

Jessica Burnett
Earth Science Data Systems Embed
Contact 

Shanna McClain 
Earth Action Embed
Contact