Earth Observatory Image of the DayNASA's view of the Earth from the Earth Observatory.The area of depleted ozone over the Antarctic ranked the seventh smallest since recovery began in 1992.Bald cypress and other trees are becoming pale, leafless snags as storms, droughts, and sea level rise kill off coastal...Ash billowed from the stratovolcano, which has been active since 2005.A dam along the Sinnamary River created this artificial lake in northern French Guiana.The volcano’s central peak, an island within an island, stands above a reflective, water-filled caldera. View the full storyVisible atmospheric phenomena revealed springtime winds roaring over Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier.Autumn color still clung to northern parts of the state in late October 2024. View the full storyAlpine glaciers around the world were advancing as recently as 1990. Now they’re melting fast. View the full storyThe city in southeastern New Mexico received four times more rainfall in a day than it usually receives in a...A potent storm brought heavy rain and gusty winds to southwestern Canada and the U.S. state of Washington in October...Scientists are studying the rare filling of Sebkha el Melah for clues about past—and possibly future—greening of the Sahara Desert.Milton persisted as a potent hurricane-strength storm as it crossed over the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and into the western...A lightning-ignited blaze billowed smoke into the towns and valleys near Jackson. View the full storyThe storm rapidly intensified to Category 5 strength over warm gulf waters. View the full storyThe active 2024 hurricane season comes to a head with several simultaneous hurricanes—an unusual sight for October. View the full...Larch-filled forests turned from green to gold around Lake Hövsgöl in September 2024. View the full storyTorrential rains from Hurricane Helene swamped communities in the mountainous western part of the state. View the full storyAn astronaut photographed the atmospheric phenomenon, associated with lightning, during a stormy night over North America. View the full storyThe heavy rains, high winds, and storm surge that devastated land also left a mark on the ocean. View the...Once the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, the typhoon weakened and stalled off the island’s southwest coast. View the...The state faced widespread power outages after winds from Hurricane Helene snapped trees, tore off roofs, and toppled power lines....The major storm brought heavy precipitation and destructive flooding to coastal Florida and southeastern states. View the full storyReflected sunlight highlights the water’s surface and flooded zones near Gee’s Bend. View the full storyA late-season storm covered the mountainous country and nearby provinces of South Africa in a blanket of white. View the...The storm, which drenched coastal British Columbia and southeastern Alaska, may be among the region’s most intense in the past...An active atmosphere at northern latitudes contributed to the highest monthly Arctic ozone concentrations measured in the satellite era. View...A meandering river birthed an oxbow lake that happens to be shaped like the first letter of the English alphabet....Torrential rain from a stalled storm system caused flooding in countries such as Poland and Slovakia. View the full storyWater inundates the marshes along Delaware Bay, which provide protection against flooding and erosion, as well as habitat for migrating...Lights in Chile’s central city display an array of colors and densities, reflecting various land uses and differences between the...The precise geometry of the protected area encompassing an iconic New Zealand volcano is unmistakable from space. View the full...Satellite imagery and local data helped researchers assess how landscape features, such as watering holes and vegetation, influence elephant movement....An extratropical storm system dropped torrential rains on parts of Morocco and Algeria. View the full storyImages of nighttime lights reveal patterns in population and urban development. View the full storyUnder the cloak of darkness, Iceberg A-83 wiggled away from glue-like sea ice and drifted farther from the Brunt Ice...Rugged terrain on New Zealand’s South Island gives rise to a distinctive lenticular cloud formation, known locally as the Taieri...Fueled by warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane will be the third to make landfall in the...Intense blazes, including the Line fire, supercharged afternoon convective clouds. View the full storyThe glacier’s Main Branch pulled away from a stabilizing rocky outcrop, while melting along the West Branch exposed “new gravelly...Drought has amplified fire activity across the continent, contributing to exceptionally high carbon emissions in Bolivia and Brazil. View the...Algal communities flourish in Lake Erie’s western basin each summer. Scientists are looking to new NASA technology to better track...China’s capital city boasts a diversity of structures, from its historic city center to the concentric roads and high-speed railway...After hitting the Philippines, the powerful storm is churning toward landfall near China’s Hainan Island. View the full storyFlash flooding has inundated villages, swamped farmland, and damaged infrastructure. View the full storyBurning for weeks, the Wapiti and Middle Fork Complex fires have charred tens of thousands of acres. View the full...The setting for John Henry’s legendary contest with a steam-powered drill may have been this tunnel through Big Bend Mountain...The polar vortex elongated and weakened over Antarctica, causing rare warming events. View the full storyAn array of satellite sensors observed the long-duration, episodic spread of the state’s historic fire. View the full storySmooth beaches meet rugged alpine terrain along this section of coastline in southwestern Italy. View the full storyThe powerful storm triggered landslides, power outages, and flooding in southern parts of the country. View the full storyThe 56-foot wave in Pedersen Lagoon, on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, damaged trees and left a mark on the landscape. View...Desert winds kicked up a cloud of dust from northern Africa. View the full storyHurricane Hone brought soaking rains to Hawaii when it passed south of the island chain, and more storms brewed to...The country’s government is relocating to a brand-new city in the desert outside of Cairo. View the full storyUrban and agricultural landscapes abut the U.S.–Mexico border in this part of the Sonoran Desert. View the full storyIn summer 2024, NASA scientists went to northern Greenland to study how clouds and atmospheric particles may be contributing to...Amid drought in southern Texas and northern Mexico, Amistad Reservoir has hit record-low levels. View the full storyThe sport can be played on Earth’s distinctive green courses, such as those around Chicago, and even on the Moon’s...Heat and wind gusts helped the blazes spread through over 5,700 hectares of forest. View the full storyElevation data collected during a space shuttle mission in 2000 continues to inform science and society in unexpected ways. View...Mid-morning sunlight illuminated snow-covered farmland and cliffs along the Des Lacs River valley. View the full storyIt took feats of engineering and deft piloting to map the planet’s topography, an achievement that continues to pay dividends...The storm dropped torrential rain on Puerto Rico before intensifying in the Atlantic. View the full storyErosion-resistant glacial sediment in the landslide deposit limited the extent of flooding downstream. View the full storyHigh summer temperatures caused record melting of the Norwegian archipelago’s glaciers. View the full storyThese shallow Arctic waters frequently produce phytoplankton blooms spanning hundreds of kilometers in the summer. View the full storyThe city’s urban heat island could add to the challenge for Olympic marathoners. View the full storyDams along the ephemeral river help protect Benghazi against floodwater coming from the wadi and its watershed. View the full...Dense smoke streamed from rainforests in Amazonas and Pará. View the full storyThe storm delivered rainfall totals of more than a foot to parts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas before marching...Despite overall declines in the thickness and extent of Arctic sea ice, shipping routes along the northern coast of North...Debris from a landslide in British Columbia blocked the river’s flow for several days before water found a way through....The Category 1 storm battered the Big Bend region and is forecast to dump intense rainfall over the U.S. Southeast....Tales about the southern English town and its conspicuous hill date back to the Middle Ages. View the full storyBold hues paint the landscape around this Brazilian river. View the full storyCurrents, tides, and winds arrange the basin’s floating ice into intricate patterns during the summer melting season. View the full...Fresh powder fell on the country’s tallest peaks and popular ski resorts. View the full storyCriss-crossing boat wakes left their mark in a phytoplankton bloom drifting near Block Island. View the full storyIn southeast British Columbia, Canada, a cluster of wildland fires surrounding Slocan Lake threatened villages and blanketed the region in...The Northern California blaze expanded at lightning speed amid record heat and high winds, leaving behind a vast burned area....Visitors to this national park in southern Utah can witness geologic landforms by day and a celestial light show by...From reflective snow and ice to the glowing towns along the Trans-Siberian Railway, nighttime near the world’s largest freshwater lake...The eastern part of the bay has had open water since May. View the full storyHundreds of wildland fires lofted sky-dulling smoke over Canada and the United States. View the full storyFrom Paris to Tahiti, the venues of the 2024 Summer Olympics showcase some of France’s iconic landmarks. View the full...The Pacific island has a storied past in the study of atoll formation and a tenuous future as it adapts...One of the most productive gold mines in Australia lies in the Great Sandy Desert. View the full storyThe remote atoll in the tropical Pacific Ocean is a haven for animals of all kinds, though scientists find that...Flashes of light illuminated the textures of cloud tops during a nighttime storm over the region. View the full storyFifty-five years after our giant leap, scientists continue to learn about both the Moon and Earth from our celestial neighbor....Large wildland fires are burning in the tundra of northern Russia. View the full storyTwo of the final stages in the 2024 cycling event traverse high mountain passes in the Western Alps. View the...Greening projects in Lahore could help cool the city as climate change and rapid urbanization intensifies the urban heat island...Fast-moving blazes tore through rangeland in the Pacific Northwest amid excessive heat. View the full storyThe natural climate phenomenon contributed to upheavals in temperature and rainfall patterns across the globe. View the full storyErosion, tectonic uplift, and a human-built dam have all helped shape the Upper Lake Powell area in Utah. View the...As summer heat hit the western and eastern U.S. in July 2024, temperatures have been especially high in the Southwest....Fires have been flaring periodically in this eastern region of Russia since May. View the full storyThe Category 4 hurricane caused widespread damage to infrastructure and vegetation on the Grenadine island. View the full storyThe early season hurricane downed trees and cut off power for over two million homes and businesses near Houston. View...Once one of the poorest regions of Mexico, Cancún is now a bustling tourist city with millions of visitors each...The island is Australia's smallest state, but its mainland fills the frame of this astronaut photograph. View the full storyThe barrier island in Texas has much to teach about barrier islands and Martian life. View the full storyFor many people, there is great joy and good summer business to be found on the widest beach in New...Assateague, Chincoteague, and Wallops provide a rare example of overlapping barrier islands. All of them are constantly in motion. View...This stretch of coastline in Western Australia is a popular recreational site for people and an important stopover site for...The white sands of Florida’s Emerald Coast beaches are primarily comprised of quartz grains from the southern Appalachian Mountains. View...Plumes of volcanic material traveled by air and by sea as the small Pacific island erupted in June 2024. View...Flanked by mountains, the capital of the Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan lies along a sharp bend in a valley sculpted...Sandy beaches are growing in some parts of the world and shrinking quickly in others, including one-third of marine protected...A striking plume trailing from the topographic prominence in West Antarctica is likely an orographic cloud. View the full storyRivers burst their banks, inundating homes and farmland in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. View the full storyRecord snowfall has not been enough to offset groundwater losses amid long-term drying and a heightened demand for the resource....Wildland fires burned tens of thousands of acres near mountain communities including the village of Rudioso. View the full storyUplift, erosion, and sea level rise all shape this part of Iran’s shoreline. View the full storyRolling hills of peaty soil store thousands of years of plant matter in northeastern England. View the full storyDecades of satellite data paint a picture of how forests in this Central American country are changing. View the full...A short-lived gap in the clouds let satellites observe a striking phytoplankton bloom east of Greenland. View the full storyThe largest tropical rainforest in Mesoamerica is shrinking as pastures and croplands spread across Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. View the...Tidal currents stir up colorful swirls off the coast of Western Australia. View the full storyThis U-shaped series of islets in the Indian Ocean rings a blue-green lagoon of varying depth. View the full storyLife finds ways to survive on this small volcanic island chain that’s way off the beaten path. View the full...Drought helped spread intense, early-season blazes in one of the world’s largest wetlands. Read the full storyMoisture-laden tropical air brought intense downpours and flooding to the southern part of the state. Read the full storyIce fragments from Greenland and the Arctic form elaborate swirls as they are swept south. Read the full storyAn early summer heat wave broke temperature records in Nevada, Arizona, and California in June 2024. View the full storyDry weather is putting extra strain on the systems that deliver water to Mexico City. View the full storyMoonlit mountains and illuminated towns highlight geographic features on this sparsely populated Russian peninsula. View the full storyThe remote archipelago is flanked by extensive coral reef areas, but these hubs of biodiversity face a summer of sweltering...Venezuela is the first postglacial nation in the Andes, as its last substantial patch of ice is now considered too...Strong winds and ample fuel helped spread flames over 14,000 acres of grassland in San Joaquin County. View the full...Emissions of the potent greenhouse gas may be higher than previously thought, especially from landfills. View the full storyA volcanic fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula came alive again with voluminous, vigorous flows. View the full storyThis map reveals the depth of floodwater that covered Rio Grande do Sul in May 2024. View the full storyA former island and a desert are among the newcomers to the dry landscape following the lake’s rapid decline. View...In Puerto Rico, corals, seagrass, and mangroves paint a colorful Caribbean scene by day, while the waters of a rare...Researchers are using satellites to track a spreading trend in agriculture—the use of greenhouses. View the full storyThe destructive tornado destroyed homes, downed wind turbines and power lines, snapped trees, and shredded roofs. View the full storyThe nutrient-loaded Northern California lake turned green with algal growth in spring 2024. View the full storyEverything’s bigger in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park, where unique wildlife, plains, wetlands, and animal-engineered landscapes all exist on a...In central Asia, jagged mountain peaks rise high above the steppe. View the full storyPresident Lyndon Johnson recognized this small town in upstate New York for being among the first to celebrate Memorial Day....Braided rivers, landslide debris, and alluvial fans are spread across this dynamic landscape in Glacier Bay National Park. View the...The Brunt Ice Shelf lost a large wedge of floating ice, the third sizeable iceberg to calve from the shelf...Destructive winds left many people in the most populous city in Texas without power. View the full storyContrasting colors of lava and ash reveal the geologic origins of Harrat Khaybar’s volcanic cones. View the full storyStrong winds kicked up sand and dust from China’s vast Taklimakan Desert. View the full storyLarge tidal swings expose a plateau-shaped reef around Australia’s Yawajaba island at low tide. View the full storyFarmers grow a variety of crops along river floodplains near Lyon. View the full storyAncient hominin fossils lie beneath the sandy soils on the outskirts of this village in southern Spain. View the full...For the second year in a row, California’s largest reservoir filled to nearly 100 percent capacity. View the full storySpace scientists and sky-watchers were treated to a stunning display of the northern lights in May 2024. View the full...Satellites captured an expansive blue and green phytoplankton bloom in the waters off France. View the full storyUnusually early and intense fires are spreading rapidly amid drought and high winds. View the full storyMichigan’s Ludington Pumped Storage Plant uses excess electricity to pump water uphill, which generates power when it flows back down....Torrential rains have unleashed widespread and destructive flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state. View the full storyNASA’s newest Earth science satellite captured a striking image of swirling bands of phytoplankton. View the full storyA May storm dumped over two feet of snow in one day on parts of the California mountain range. View...The peak of the blooming season brought vibrant colors to the Dutch landscape. View the full storyMonths before the arrival of tourists and migrating birds, this high-elevation lake on the Tibetan Plateau was glazed with ice....NASA citizen scientists collected thousands of photographs and temperature readings that are being used to study the relationship between total...NASA satellites are helping track tiger habitat, offering hope and new insights for conservation as these predators face the consequences...Exacerbated by El Niño, heavy rains in spring 2024 caused severe flooding in Tanzania’s Rufiji district, among other areas in...Severe drought in Zambia jeopardizes electricity supplies and food security for millions of people. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152746/parched-kafue-flatshttps://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152742/global-accounting-of-earths-rivers. View the full storyOver the past two and a half decades, EO has published more than 18,000 image-driven stories. This video highlights some...Agricultural plots are carpeted in yellow when rapeseed or canola plants bloom. View the full storyClouds and haze crash into high-elevation ridges in this oblique photograph, taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station....Every spring, satellites observe thick plumes of dust streaming from the Gobi Desert over East Asia. View the full storyAmid prolonged drought, wet spring weather flooded marshes and greened vegetation in southern Spain. View the full storyThe powerful eruption lofted ash high into the atmosphere and spread tephra and other volcanic debris across the small island...One of the driest growing seasons in decades has decimated crops and left millions hungry. View the full storyNew analysis of a round depression in the salty plains of the Kutch Basin revealed telltale signs of a prehistoric...In the country’s southeast, towering table-top mountains known as tepuis host unique species of flora and fauna. View the full...A powerful storm system battered major cities in the Arabian Peninsula. View the full storyWith the help of icebreaking vessels, Saimaa’s icy waters remain navigable for much of the year. View the full storyMajor cities in northwestern Europe shine bright in this nighttime photo, taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station....Rivers overtopped their banks and submerged thousands of homes in Russia and Kazakhstan. View the full storyResearchers used satellite data to calculate the depth of water in this transient freshwater body. View the full storyPoppies are sparse, but yellow wildflowers are blooming in Southern California. View the full storyThis reddish “burning mountain” of granite is the highest point in Namibia. View the full storyAstronauts and photographers captured unforgettable views of Earth and the Sun as the Moon’s shadow swept across North America. View...The amount of snow in the California-Nevada mountain range was about average in April 2024—a rare occurrence. View the full...Human-made lakes along the western U.S. river were drained as part of the world’s largest dam removal project to date....Satellites gathered striking views of the Moon’s shadow from above as observers on the ground were awed by the Sun’s...Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand popular with tourists, faces seasonal spikes in air pollution. View the full storyDistinct textures stand out in this winter scene around Bositeng Lake in China’s Xinjiang region. View the full storySigns of structural weaknesses may signal a shift in this Antarctic ice shelf’s stability. View the full storyStrong winds that race across Lago Colhué Huapi have exposed ancient artifacts amid the dusty surface. View the full storyThe latest fissure eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula was the largest of four recent bouts of activity near the town...More than 100 active fires burned across the country in late-March 2024, including this blaze near the border of Oaxaca...Landsat satellites have begun regularly acquiring images of ice at the poles during the winter, with enlightening results. View the...Rectangular ponds for shrimp farming line the coast of northern Peru. View the full storyMeandering waterways distribute sediments across a foothill valley in Argentina. View the full storyNASA scientists are part of an international effort to collect air quality data in Southeast Asia. View the full storyDrought and heat have fueled unusually high numbers of fires in the South American country during the first three months...Skies turned orange and snowy slopes were stained brown as Saharan dust reached Europe. View the full storySweltering temperatures led to power cuts and school closures in South Sudan. View the full storySea ice at the top of the planet continued to shrink and thin in 2024, consistent with an ongoing 46-year...The large coral islands off the African coast are home to giant tortoises and unique birdlife. View the full storySmoke billowed from multiple wildfires in the eastern U.S., fueled by dry and windy weather. View the full storyLights, snow, and clouds brighten this wintery scene of Earth’s northern latitudes. View the full storyIt’s not a forecast, but this map of historical cloud cover will tell you how often skies on April 8...A potent storm pushed snowpack levels above normal across Colorado.View the full storyRecent data from the previously unstudied Ruki River in the Congo Basin shows that it carries a heavy load of...The Arctic and North Atlantic oceans have seen an increasing number of days when precipitation falls as rain, not snow....A Landsat satellite acquired this image of discolored water drifting from the active underwater volcano. View the full storyAn astronaut’s photograph reveals the myriad features of a remote glacier high in the Karakoram mountains of central Asia. View...Weeks of warmer-than-average ocean temperatures caused extensive bleaching in the world’s largest coral reef system. View the full storyA cycle of rapid advance and retreat at Sortebræ, a glacier in eastern Greenland, built pi-shaped tongues of ice before...The storm dropped a substantial amount of rain as it moved across Mozambique. View the full storyResearchers are leveraging troves of data collected by animal-borne sensors to complement satellite observations, expand weather measurements, and better understand...A volcano on Fernandina, an uninhabited island dense with wildlife, is lighting up the night sky with the glow of...This wide-angle photo offers the feeling of looking out over the Persian Gulf from an altitude of about 250 miles....The large reservoir in Catalonia shrank to 1 percent of capacity in March 2024. View the full storySome of the world’s largest deposits of this useful metal lie in the high plains of the Central Andes. View...Ranchers in the Texas Panhandle recently faced a fire that charred more than 1 million acres. View the full storyThe Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite provides a new view of water on land, at the coast, and in...