|
|
Assimilation of N2O in the U
…
| Title |
Assimilation of N2O in the Upper Atmosphere Using a Kalman Filter: N2O Mixing Ratio |
| Abstract |
This series of animations shows assimilation of N2O in the upper atmosphere using observations from the Cryogenic Limb Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES) on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Winds were provided by the Goddard EOS Data Assimilation System (GEOS-DAS). Flow is at the 850K isentropic level. N2O mixing ratio is expressed in parts per billion volume (ppbv). |
| Completed |
1996-03-22 |
|
Global Atmospheric Carbon Mo
…
| Title |
Global Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide in 2000 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
This visualization shows global carbon monoxide concentrations at the 500 millibar altitude in the atmosphere from March 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000. Areas in red have 200 parts per billion of carbon monoxide or more at that altitude (around 5,500 meters), while areas in blue are 50 parts per billion or less. Carbon monoxide is an atmospheric pollutant and the highest concentrations come from grassland and forest fires in Africa and South America, although there is evidence that industrial sources may also be a factor. Atmospheric circulation rapidly moves the carbon monoxide to other parts of the world once it has reached this altitude. This data was measured by the MOPITT instrument on the Terra satellite. |
| Completed |
2004-02-12 |
|
Global Atmospheric Carbon Mo
…
| Title |
Global Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide in 2000 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
This visualization shows global carbon monoxide concentrations at the 500 millibar altitude in the atmosphere from March 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000. Areas in red have 200 parts per billion of carbon monoxide or more at that altitude (around 5,500 meters), while areas in blue are 50 parts per billion or less. Carbon monoxide is an atmospheric pollutant and the highest concentrations come from grassland and forest fires in Africa and South America, although there is evidence that industrial sources may also be a factor. Atmospheric circulation rapidly moves the carbon monoxide to other parts of the world once it has reached this altitude. This data was measured by the MOPITT instrument on the Terra satellite. |
| Completed |
2004-02-12 |
|
The Microwave Limb Sounder O
…
| Title |
The Microwave Limb Sounder Observes the Lower Stratosphere and Upper Troposphere |
| Abstract |
MLS measures lower stratospheric temperature and concentrations of H2O, O3, ClO, BrO, HCl, OH, HO2, HNO3, HCN, and N2O, for their effects on (and diagnoses of) ozone depletion, transformations of greenhouse gases, and radiative forcing of climate change. |
| Completed |
2004-12-14 |
|
Great Zoom out of Sabie Rive
…
| Title |
Great Zoom out of Sabie River, Africa (EOS Land Validation Site) |
| Abstract |
Using data from different spacecraft and some powerful computer technology, visualizers at the Goddard Space Flight Center present you with a collection of American cities in a way you have never seen them before. Starting with our camera high above the Earth, we rush in towards the surface at what would be an impossible speed for any known vehicle. Passing though layers of atmosphere, the colors of our destinations shimmer with their own unique characteristics, and suddenly we find ourselves floating in virtual space just above the ground. |
| Completed |
2002-04-30 |
|
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot
| Title |
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot |
| Completed |
1998-01-01 |
|
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot
| Title |
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot |
| Completed |
1998-01-01 |
|
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot
| Title |
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot |
| Completed |
1998-01-01 |
|
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot
| Title |
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot |
| Completed |
1998-01-01 |
|
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot
| Title |
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot |
| Completed |
1998-01-01 |
|
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot
| Title |
EOS - AM1 Beauty Shot |
| Completed |
1998-01-01 |
|
Great Zoom into Mongu, Afric
…
| Title |
Great Zoom into Mongu, Africa (EOS Land Validation Site) |
| Abstract |
Using data from different spacecraft and some powerful computer technology, visualizers at the Goddard Space Flight Center present you with a collection of American cities in a way you have never seen them before. Starting with our camera high above the Earth, we rush in towards the surface at what would be an impossible speed for any known vehicle. Passing though layers of atmosphere, the colors of our destinations shimmer with their own unique characteristics, and suddenly we find ourselves floating in virtual space just above the ground. |
| Completed |
2002-04-30 |
|
Great Zoom out of Mongu, Afr
…
| Title |
Great Zoom out of Mongu, Africa (EOS Land Validation Site) |
| Abstract |
Using data from different spacecraft and some powerful computer technology, visualizers at the Goddard Space Flight Center present you with a collection of American cities in a way you have never seen them before. Starting with our camera high above the Earth, we rush in towards the surface at what would be an impossible speed for any known vehicle. Passing though layers of atmosphere, the colors of our destinations shimmer with their own unique characteristics, and suddenly we find ourselves floating in virtual space just above the ground. |
| Completed |
2002-04-30 |
|
Floods in Northwestern Austr
…
| Title |
Floods in Northwestern Australia |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Monty brought heavy rain to drought-stricken regions of Western Australia. While welcome, the rain pushed the Fortescue River over its banks, cutting off a few small communities and isolated homesteads in the rural area. These false-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] (MODIS) images show the Fortescue River on February 24, 2004, before Monty came ashore, and on March 3, just after the cyclone moved across the area. Blue-green streaks in the image taken on March 3 show where water covers the land. The Fortescue River appears particularly flooded near the coast, where a large fan shape has replaced the slender line water running into the Indian Ocean. The high-resolution images provided above are at MODIS' maximum resolution of 250 meters per pixel. Images courtesy Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC (March 3) and the EOS Data Pool (February 24). |
|
Floods in Northwestern Austr
…
| Title |
Floods in Northwestern Australia |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Monty brought heavy rain to drought-stricken regions of Western Australia. While welcome, the rain pushed the Fortescue River over its banks, cutting off a few small communities and isolated homesteads in the rural area. These false-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] (MODIS) images show the Fortescue River on February 24, 2004, before Monty came ashore, and on March 3, just after the cyclone moved across the area. Blue-green streaks in the image taken on March 3 show where water covers the land. The Fortescue River appears particularly flooded near the coast, where a large fan shape has replaced the slender line water running into the Indian Ocean. The high-resolution images provided above are at MODIS' maximum resolution of 250 meters per pixel. Images courtesy Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC (March 3) and the EOS Data Pool (February 24). |
|
Floods in Northwestern Austr
…
| Title |
Floods in Northwestern Australia |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Monty brought heavy rain to drought-stricken regions of Western Australia. While welcome, the rain pushed the Fortescue River over its banks, cutting off a few small communities and isolated homesteads in the rural area. These false-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] (MODIS) images show the Fortescue River on February 24, 2004, before Monty came ashore, and on March 3, just after the cyclone moved across the area. Blue-green streaks in the image taken on March 3 show where water covers the land. The Fortescue River appears particularly flooded near the coast, where a large fan shape has replaced the slender line water running into the Indian Ocean. The high-resolution images provided above are at MODIS' maximum resolution of 250 meters per pixel. Images courtesy Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC (March 3) and the EOS Data Pool (February 24). |
|
Dewatering Effects from the
…
| Title |
Dewatering Effects from the Gujarat Earthquake |
| Description |
MISR Browse Image Viewer [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/redirect?http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/MISRBR/ ] provides access to low-resolution true-color versions of these images. This data product was generated from a portion of the imagery acquired during Terra orbits 5736 and 5969. The full-size images cover an area of 215 kilometers x 156 kilometers, and utilize data from blocks 71 to 72 within World Reference System-2 path 151. Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL, MISR Team. [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/redirect?http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/ ] Text by Clare Averill (Acro Service Corporation/JPL) and David J. Diner (JPL)., browse image of orbit 5969 (380 KB JPEG) On January 26, 2001, when India's Republic Day is normally celebrated, a devastating earthquake hit the state of Gujarat. About 20,000 people died and millions were injured throughout the region. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale. After the earthquake, local residents reported a mixture of water and sediments fountaining from the Earth. These effects, referred to as dewatering, can result from intense ground shaking by strong earthquakes in regions with shallow water tables. Scientists initially observed dewatering in parts of the Rann of Kutch (a large salt pan in northern Gujarat), and in areas close to the earthquake epicenter. Recent research utilizes the unique capabilities of the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument to observe earthquake-related dewatering over a broader area (related story: NASA Satellite Helps Scientists See Effects of Earthquakes in Remote Areas [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/2003/2003020511146.html ]). This research is published in the February 4, 2003, issue of EOS Transactions of the American Geophysical Union. These two false-color MISR images were acquired before and after the event, on January 15 and 31, respectively. The earthquake epicenter was located about 80 kilometers east of the city of Bhuj, situated in the lower part of the images. The later image depicts numerous areas where groundwater flowed up to the surface, including within the Rann of Kutch, as well as near the Indo-Pakistani border. These regions of earthquake-associated surface water are apparent up to 200 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter. Water was observed in many remote areas, especially near the Indo-Pakistani border, which were not easily accessible to survey teams on the ground. Changes in reflection at different view angles and in the near-infrared spectral region assist with the identification of surface water, which appears here in shades of blue and purple. In these visualizations, data from the red band of MISR's most obliquely backward and forward-viewing cameras are displayed as red and blue, respectively, and data from the near-infrared band of MISR's vertically-downward viewing (nadir) camera are displayed as green. Water bodies tend to be more absorbing in the near-infrared, and to be brighter in the view acquired by the more sun-facing (in this case, the 70-degree forward) camera. This combination enhances the ability to distinguish wet surfaces. True color and multi-angle visualizations [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=4810 ] of these data were also released in April 2001. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer observes the daylit Earth continuously and every 9 days views the entire globe between 82 degrees north and 82 degrees south latitude. The |
|
Dewatering Effects from the
…
| Title |
Dewatering Effects from the Gujarat Earthquake |
| Description |
MISR Browse Image Viewer [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/redirect?http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/MISRBR/ ] provides access to low-resolution true-color versions of these images. This data product was generated from a portion of the imagery acquired during Terra orbits 5736 and 5969. The full-size images cover an area of 215 kilometers x 156 kilometers, and utilize data from blocks 71 to 72 within World Reference System-2 path 151. Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL, MISR Team. [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/redirect?http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/ ] Text by Clare Averill (Acro Service Corporation/JPL) and David J. Diner (JPL)., browse image of orbit 5969 (380 KB JPEG) On January 26, 2001, when India's Republic Day is normally celebrated, a devastating earthquake hit the state of Gujarat. About 20,000 people died and millions were injured throughout the region. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale. After the earthquake, local residents reported a mixture of water and sediments fountaining from the Earth. These effects, referred to as dewatering, can result from intense ground shaking by strong earthquakes in regions with shallow water tables. Scientists initially observed dewatering in parts of the Rann of Kutch (a large salt pan in northern Gujarat), and in areas close to the earthquake epicenter. Recent research utilizes the unique capabilities of the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument to observe earthquake-related dewatering over a broader area (related story: NASA Satellite Helps Scientists See Effects of Earthquakes in Remote Areas [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/2003/2003020511146.html ]). This research is published in the February 4, 2003, issue of EOS Transactions of the American Geophysical Union. These two false-color MISR images were acquired before and after the event, on January 15 and 31, respectively. The earthquake epicenter was located about 80 kilometers east of the city of Bhuj, situated in the lower part of the images. The later image depicts numerous areas where groundwater flowed up to the surface, including within the Rann of Kutch, as well as near the Indo-Pakistani border. These regions of earthquake-associated surface water are apparent up to 200 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter. Water was observed in many remote areas, especially near the Indo-Pakistani border, which were not easily accessible to survey teams on the ground. Changes in reflection at different view angles and in the near-infrared spectral region assist with the identification of surface water, which appears here in shades of blue and purple. In these visualizations, data from the red band of MISR's most obliquely backward and forward-viewing cameras are displayed as red and blue, respectively, and data from the near-infrared band of MISR's vertically-downward viewing (nadir) camera are displayed as green. Water bodies tend to be more absorbing in the near-infrared, and to be brighter in the view acquired by the more sun-facing (in this case, the 70-degree forward) camera. This combination enhances the ability to distinguish wet surfaces. True color and multi-angle visualizations [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=4810 ] of these data were also released in April 2001. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer observes the daylit Earth continuously and every 9 days views the entire globe between 82 degrees north and 82 degrees south latitude. The |
|
Dust Storm over the Canary I
…
| Title |
Dust Storm over the Canary Islands |
| Description |
On March 10, 2007, thick plumes of dust blew off the west coast of Africa and over the Canary Islands. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite took this picture the same day. In this image, the tan dust strikes a strong contrast with the navy blue ocean. The dust plumes are thickest over the Canary Islands, almost thick enough to completely obscure the satellite's view of them. The dust plumes thin somewhat north and south of the islands. In the areas with thinner dust plumes, in a few isolated spots, the seawater appears green under the dust. This may result from sediment, shallow water, or both. Whereas many deserts consist of largely of bedrock and gravel, with just some sand, one-fifth of the Sahara is covered in sand, with dunes rising to 300 meters (1,000 feet) in places. As the Sahara regularly exports dust across the Atlantic Ocean, giving the Canary Islands a dusting requires a relatively short trip: the easternmost island is just over 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the African coast. In many instances, Saharan dust travels all the way to the Caribbean. There, the dust plays a dual role. While it can carry bacteria and fungi that harm Caribbean corals, it also provides soil for the local islands. Without Saharan dust, few plants might grow in the Caribbean. Saharan dust may also play a role in mitigating the Atlantic hurricane season. On February 27, 2007, William Lau of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Kyu-Myong Kim of the University of Maryland published an article in EOS hypothesizing that repeated dust storms from Africa in summer 2006 blocked incoming sunlight, cooled the sea surface, and hampered hurricane development. NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center. |
|
EO-1 Launches!
| Title |
EO-1 Launches! |
| Description |
These photos [view expanded images of launch (left) or view from above (right)] show the launch of the Boeing Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, at 10:24 a.m. on November 21 PST, carrying a payload of three satellites into orbit. The payload included NASA's Earth Observer-1 (EO-1), Argentina's SAC-C, and Sweden's Munin spacecraft. Sixty minutes after lift-off, EO-1 was successfully deployed in orbit, SAC-C was deployed about 30 minutes later, and Munin deployed shortly after that. All three satellites are performing well. The launch of EO-1 marks the beginning of NASA's New Millennium Program (NMP), in which NASA is developing smaller, lighter spacecraft that meet or exceed the performance of current satellite technologies. The goal of NMP is to improve the on-orbit measurement capabilities of satellites while reducing the cost to build and launch them into space. Because its purpose is to demonstrate new technology on orbit, data from EO-1 will be made available only after the team completes its calibration and validation activities. Over the next two weeks, EO-1 and SAC-C will gradually be moved into their final orbital trajectories--flying very nearly from pole to pole at an altitude of 705 kilometers. The objective is to fly them in formation with Landsat 7 and Terra, two of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites already in orbit, so that their data may be cross compared for calibration and validation purposes. EO-1 will follow about 60 seconds behind Landsat 7, descending southward across the equator at about 10:16 a.m. local time. For more information see: * ? EO-1 Fact Sheet [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/EO1 ] * ? EO-1 website [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/redirect?http://eo1.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] Launch photos courtesy Vandenberg Air Force Base and EO-1 Project Scientist Stephen Ungar |
|
EO-1 Launches!
| Title |
EO-1 Launches! |
| Description |
These photos [view expanded images of launch (left) or view from above (right)] show the launch of the Boeing Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, at 10:24 a.m. on November 21 PST, carrying a payload of three satellites into orbit. The payload included NASA's Earth Observer-1 (EO-1), Argentina's SAC-C, and Sweden's Munin spacecraft. Sixty minutes after lift-off, EO-1 was successfully deployed in orbit, SAC-C was deployed about 30 minutes later, and Munin deployed shortly after that. All three satellites are performing well. The launch of EO-1 marks the beginning of NASA's New Millennium Program (NMP), in which NASA is developing smaller, lighter spacecraft that meet or exceed the performance of current satellite technologies. The goal of NMP is to improve the on-orbit measurement capabilities of satellites while reducing the cost to build and launch them into space. Because its purpose is to demonstrate new technology on orbit, data from EO-1 will be made available only after the team completes its calibration and validation activities. Over the next two weeks, EO-1 and SAC-C will gradually be moved into their final orbital trajectories--flying very nearly from pole to pole at an altitude of 705 kilometers. The objective is to fly them in formation with Landsat 7 and Terra, two of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites already in orbit, so that their data may be cross compared for calibration and validation purposes. EO-1 will follow about 60 seconds behind Landsat 7, descending southward across the equator at about 10:16 a.m. local time. For more information see: * ? EO-1 Fact Sheet [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/EO1 ] * ? EO-1 website [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/redirect?http://eo1.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] Launch photos courtesy Vandenberg Air Force Base and EO-1 Project Scientist Stephen Ungar |
|
Eruption of Anatahan
| Title |
Eruption of Anatahan |
| Description |
As reported by the Saipan Tribune Website, the Anatan Volcano spewed volcanic ash to an altitude of nearly 13,000 meters (42,000 feet) in early August, prompting officials to issue a volcanic ash advisory for Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. The volcano has emitted something besides ash: sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is colorless, so its presence must be monitored with sensors specially designed to find it. The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on NASA's Aura [ http://aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html ] satellite collects data on atmospheric chemistry. OMI monitors sulfur dioxide emissions from Anatahan, and collected data shown in these images between July 25 and 31 (top), and August 2 and 8 (bottom). Highest concentrations appear in red, and lowest concentrations appear in pale pink. In each image, the arrow indicates the volcano's summit. OMI measures sulfur dioxide in terms of molecules per square centimeter of atmosphere, known as Dobson Units. A single Dobson Unit equals 0.0285 grams of sulfur dioxide per square meter of vertical column of atmosphere. The images show different dispersion patters for sulfur dioxide in late July and early August. Between July 25 and 31, predominantly easterly winds carried the noxious emissions away from the populated islands. Between August 2 and 8, however, changing winds allowed sulfur dioxide to accumulate over the Southern Mariana Islands and Guam. Although invisible to human eyes, sulfur dioxide can still make its presence known—by irritating them. Sulfur dioxide can inflame mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat, and even skin. The upper respiratory tract is the most susceptible to sulfur dioxide irritation. Sulfur dioxide also leads to acid rain and volcanic smog (vog) that interferes with air transport. The OMI instrument is a Dutch-Finnish Instrument, provided to the EOS/Aura mission by The Netherlands and Finland. NIVR (the Dutch space agency) is the overall program manager, in coordination with FMI (the Finnish Meteorological Institute). The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) is the Principal Investigator institute. NASA image courtesy Simon Carn, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology [ http://www.jcet.umbc.edu/ ] (JCET), University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) |
|
Eruption of Santa Ana (Ilama
…
| Title |
Eruption of Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) Volcano |
| Description |
On October 1, 2005, El Salvador's Santa Ana, or Ilamatepec, Volcano erupted for the first time since 1904. Besides ash, lava, rocks as big as cars, and a boiling flood of muddy water, Santa Ana's eruption produced something else: sulfur dioxide. This invisible gas can inflame mucous membranes of the eyes, skin, and upper respiratory tract. It also leads to acid rain and volcanic smog (vog) that interferes with air transport. The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on NASA's Aura [ http://aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html ] satellite collects data on atmospheric chemistry, including sulfur dioxide emissions from volcanoes. This image combines OMI's observations of the Santa Ana Volcano taken on October 1 and 2, 2005. In this image of Central America, black triangles indicate volcanoes. Sulfur dioxide concentrations are color coded, with highest concentrations in red, and lowest concentrations in pale pink. Near the Santa Ana Volcano hovers a thick cloud of sulfur dioxide, this is the emission cloud as it appeared on October 1. To the left is a dispersed cloud, this is how the same cloud appeared on October 2 as the gas drifted westward over the Pacific, having lost half of its sulfur dioxide mass. The total cloud mass on October 1 was estimated at 10,000 tons, a relatively small eruption. Recent examples of much larger eruptions include Manam [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16820 ] on January 27-28, 2005, and Anatahan [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=12854 ] on April 5-6, 2005. The OMI instrument is a Dutch-Finnish Instrument, provided to the EOS/Aura mission by The Netherlands and Finland. NIVR (the Dutch space agency) is the overall program manager, in coordination with FMI (the Finnish Meteorological Institute). The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) is the Principal Investigator institute. NASA image courtesy Simon Carn, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology [ http://www.jcet.umbc.edu/ ] (JCET), University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) |
|
Snow Depth in the Northern H
…
| Title |
Snow Depth in the Northern Hemisphere |
| Description |
The image above shows the snow depth in the Northern Hemisphere on December 7, 2002, derived from the National Space Development Agency of Japan's (NASDA) Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) on the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. The data shown were collected during the north-to-south ("descending") portions of the Aqua orbit. The snow covering the land in winter will provide soil moisture in spring when the snow melts. Low frequency channels (6.9 and 10.7 GHz) of AMSR-E may improve upon the snow depth estimations from earlier passive microwave satellite instruments for heavy snow storage regions. Novel geophysical parameters, including soil moisture, will also be retrieved using these low frequency channels. Image courtesy Al Chang, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the AMSR-E [ http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/AMSR/ ] Science Team. |
|
Snowstorm in New Mexico
| Title |
Snowstorm in New Mexico |
| Description |
Heavy snow left New Mexico in a state of emergency on February 25, 2004, after a large storm swept across the region the previous day. Roads, schools, businesses, and even the state government were all forced to close in the height of the storm. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] (MODIS) on the Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite tracked a blue trail of snow across northern Texas, New Mexico, and Southern Colorado on February 25. Blue patches of snow also appear in southern Utah, upper left corner. In this false-color image, the snow is blue, bare ground is pink, vegetation is bright green, and clouds are white and light blue. The states shown in this image include, starting in the upper left corner and going clockwise, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Northern Mexico forms the bottom left corner of the image. The high-resolution image provided above has a resolution of 250 meters per pixel. Image courtesy Jesse Allen, based on data from the EOS Data Pool at NASA GSFC |
|
Terra Launch Animation
| Title |
Terra Launch Animation |
| Description |
NASA will launch and deploy the "flagship" to the Earth Observing System series of satellites, part of a precedent setting program designed to provide daily information on the health of the planet. The Terra spacecraft, formerly known as "EOS AM-1," is scheduled for launch Dec. 16, 1999. Terra begins a new generation of Earth science - one that studies the Earth's land, oceans, air, ice and life as a total global system. Terra will carry a complement of five synergistic state-of-the-art instruments. Researchers now recognize that the Earth - land, oceans, life, and atmosphere - operates as a system - one part impacting the other. EOS will help us to understand how the complex coupled Earth system of air, land, water and life is linked. A series of 10 spacecraft, known as the first EOS series, are scheduled for launch into the next decade. "After years of anxious anticipation we're extremely excited about this mission," said Dr. Ghassem Asrar, associate administrator, NASA's Earth Science Enterprise. "The Terra mission has nearly unlimited potential to improve scientific understanding of global climate change." A polar-orbiting spacecraft, Terra is scheduled for launch aboard an Atlas-Centaur IIAS expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The 25-minute launch window opens at 1:33 p.m. EST (10:33 a.m. PST). Separation of the spacecraft from its launch vehicle will occur about 14 minutes after launch. *Terra animations* Terra Home Page Terra Fact Sheet Animation by Reto Stockli, NASA GSFC |
|
North Pole Below
| Title |
North Pole Below |
| Explanation |
Orbiting over the north pole of planet Earth [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ ] on May 5, the MODIS instrument on-board the Terra spacecraft [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ], recorded this view of the ice cap [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/ images.php3?img_id=4193 ] 700 kilometers below. A radial grid centered on the pole is shown on top of the approximately true color image where each pixel covers about one square kilometer. Frozen sea ice [ http://www.natice.noaa.gov/ ] appears whitish while open water or newly refrozen ice looks black. An impressive criss-crossing network of cracks in ice shifting above a liquid water ocean is visible, traced by the meandering dark lines. In fact, the dark network of cracks in the sea ice [ http://southport.jpl.nasa.gov/polar/iceinfo.html ] is reminiscent of another world in our solar system which may also harbor a liquid water ocean -- Jupiter's ice moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960813.html ] Europa [ http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov/moons/europa.html ]. |
|
Hurricane Isabel Approaches
| Title |
Hurricane Isabel Approaches |
| Explanation |
Where will Hurricane Isabel [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/ ] go? One of the stronger storm systems [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastint.html ] of modern times appears headed for one the more populated seaboards on planet Earth -- the east coast of the USA [ http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html ]. Hurricane Isabel, pictured yesteday as it passed east of the Bahamas [ http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bf.html ], has flirted with category 5 [ http://www.srcc.lsu.edu/OEP/hurr_scale.html ] status, the most powerful hurricane category [ http://www.hawaii.navy.mil/hurricane/hurr_info.htm ]. Hurricanes are huge swirling storms [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960920.html ] with cloud systems typically larger than a state. Tropical cyclones, called hurricanes in Earth's Western Hemisphere and typhoons [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970819.html ] in the Eastern Hemisphere, get their immense energy from warm evaporated ocean water. As this water vapor cools and condenses, it heats the air, lowers pressure [ http://www.howstuffworks.com/hurricane.htm ] and hence causes cooler air to come swooshing in. Winds can reach over 250 kilometers per hour and become very dangerous [ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/miami/peopleevents/pande07.html ]. Much remains unknown about cyclones [ http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/tcfaqHED.html ], including how they are formed and the exact path they will take. |
|
The Earth-Moon System
| Title |
The Earth-Moon System |
| Explanation |
This evocative mosaic image [ http://sd-www.jhuapl.edu/NEAR/msinis-wwwhome/ESB/earthmoon.html ] of the Earth-Moon system was recorded by NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) [ http://sd-www.jhuapl.edu/NEAR/ ] spacecraft earlier this month. The relative sizes shown are appropriate for viewing both the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951222.html ] and Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980107.html ] from a distance of about 250,000 miles, although the apparent brightness of the Moon has been increased by about a factor of five for the sake of appearances. This space-based perspective is a unique one, the bland and somber Lunar Southern Hemisphere [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap961204.html ] contrasting strongly with blue oceans, swirling clouds, and the bright icy white continent of Antarctica on planet Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970316.html ]. Though its lack of atmosphere [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap961012.html ] and oceans [ http://eos.atmos.washington.edu/ ] make it relatively dull looking, the Earth's moon is one of the largest moons [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970929.html ] in the solar system - even larger than the planet Pluto [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960212.html ]. During this recent flyby of the Earth-Moon system [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980126.html ], the NEAR spacecraft used Earth's gravity to deflect it towards its ultimate destination, the Asteroid [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960215.html ] 433 Eros. It is scheduled to arrive at Eros in January 1999. |
|
The Water Vapor Channel
| Title |
The Water Vapor Channel |
| Explanation |
What alien planet's bizarre landscape [ http://ic-www.arc.nasa.gov/fia/projects/bayes-group/Atlas/ ] lurks below these fiery-looking clouds? It's only Planet Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960819.html ], of course ... as seen on the Water Vapor Channel. Hourly, images like this one [ http://climate-f.gsfc.nasa.gov/~chesters/text/goes.latest.images.html ] (an infrared image shown in false color) are brought to you by the orbiting Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites' (GOES) [ http://climate.gsfc.nasa.gov/~chesters/text/goesimbroch.html ] multi-channel imagers [ http://climate-f.gsfc.nasa.gov/~chesters/text/imager.html ]. These instruments can produce images at the infrared wavelength of 6.7 microns or about 10 times the wavelength of visible light, recording radiation emitted by water vapor in the upper troposphere [ http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/earth/atmosphere.html ]. Bright regions correspond to high concentrations of water vapor while dark spots are relatively dry areas. Atmospheric water vapor is invisible to the eye and produced by evaporation from the oceans. Convected upward in the tropical zones [ http://climate-f.gsfc.nasa.gov/~chesters/text/ goes8results.html#early.ir.images ] it affects the climate by contributing [ http://eos.atmos.washington.edu/ ] substantially to the greenhouse effect. |
|
Floods in Northwestern Austr
…
nasa, nasanaturalhazards
* eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/ima
…
modis_nwaust_03mar24feb04
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2004-03-03 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA Image Of The Day |
| identifier |
modis_nwaust_03mar24feb04 |
|
Floods in Northwestern Austr
…
nasa, nasanaturalhazards
* eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/ima
…
modis_nwaust_03mar24feb04
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2004-03-03 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA Image Of The Day |
| identifier |
modis_nwaust_03mar24feb04 |
|
Dust Dampens Hurricane Forma
…
nasa, nasaimageofthedaygalle
…
After 2005's record hurrican
…
ge_07598
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2006 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data processed and provided by Chelle Gentemann and Frank Wentz, remss.com/ Remote Sensing Systems. Tropical storm and hurricane tracks provided by the University of Hawaii's www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/tropical.html Tropical Storm Information Center. |
| identifier |
ge_07598 |
|
Dust Dampens Hurricane Forma
…
nasa, nasaimageofthedaygalle
…
After 2005's record hurrican
…
ge_07598
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2006 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data processed and provided by Chelle Gentemann and Frank Wentz, remss.com/ Remote Sensing Systems. Tropical storm and hurricane tracks provided by the University of Hawaii's www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/tropical.html Tropical Storm Information Center. |
| identifier |
ge_07598 |
|
Dust Dampens Hurricane Forma
…
nasa, nasaimageofthedaygalle
…
After 2005's record hurrican
…
ge_07598
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2006 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data processed and provided by Chelle Gentemann and Frank Wentz, remss.com/ Remote Sensing Systems. Tropical storm and hurricane tracks provided by the University of Hawaii's www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/tropical.html Tropical Storm Information Center. |
| identifier |
ge_07598 |
|
Dust Dampens Hurricane Forma
…
nasa, nasaimageofthedaygalle
…
After 2005's record hurrican
…
ge_07598
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2006 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data processed and provided by Chelle Gentemann and Frank Wentz, remss.com/ Remote Sensing Systems. Tropical storm and hurricane tracks provided by the University of Hawaii's www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/tropical.html Tropical Storm Information Center. |
| identifier |
ge_07598 |
|
Snowstorm in New Mexico: Nat
…
nasa, nasanaturalhazards
Heavy snow left New Mexico i
…
terra_newmexico_25feb04
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2004-02-25 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA Image Of The Day |
| identifier |
terra_newmexico_25feb04 |
|
NASA Launches Aura Satellite
…
nasa, nasaimageofthedaygalle
…
* eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/ima
…
Aura_launch
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2004-07-15 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA images and animations of Aura satellite by Jesse Allen and Reto Stöckli, Earth Observatory. Photo of Delta II rocket courtesy Boeing/Thom Baur. |
| identifier |
Aura_launch |
|
Visualization of Fires in Gr
…
PIA09923
Sol (our sun)
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
| Title |
Visualization of Fires in Greece as seen by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
[ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/archive/PIA09923.m1v ] Click on the image for visualization Four-Day Time Series A series of fires across Greece in August of 2007 burned 469,000 acres and claimed the lives of 65 people. The fires, in which an estimated 4,000 people lost their homes, mostly occurred in the southern part of the country. In the visualization (see above), the carbon monoxide signature from the fires in Greece is revealed in data retrieved by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, AIRS. Forest fires create large amounts of carbon monoxide. AIRS provides daily global maps of carbon monoxide from space, allowing scientists to follow the global transport of this gas day-to-day. The visualization covers data retrieved over the period from August 24-28, 2007, and shows the amount of CO that has risen into the broad layer within the free troposphere. More carbon monoxide generally means more pollution, either natural from wildfires or from industrial and domestic sources. Beginning August 24, a significant plume emanates from the extensive fires burning in Greece. This plume moves southeast across the Mediterranean Sea and over North Africa from August 24 to 28. It crosses to Africa and arcs westward over the Sahara Desert and continues to curl around over the Eastern Mediterranean toward Sardinia and Corsica. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Experiment (AIRS) [ http://airs/ ], with its visible, infrared, and microwave detectors, provides a three-dimensional look at Earth's weather. Working in tandem, the three instruments can make simultaneous observations all the way down to the Earth's surface, even in the presence of heavy clouds. With more than 2,000 channels sensing different regions of the atmosphere, the system creates a global, 3-D map of atmospheric temperature and humidity and provides information on clouds, greenhouse gases, and many other atmospheric phenomena. The AIRS Infrared Sounder Experiment flies onboard NASA's Aqua spacecraft and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., under contract to NASA. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
|
ASTER Andes
PIA02654
Sol (our sun)
ASTER
| Title |
ASTER Andes |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
In this image of the Andes along the Chile-Bolivia border, the visible and infrared data have been computer enhanced to exaggerate the color differences of the different materials. The scene is dominated by the Pampa Luxsar lava complex, occupying the upper right two-thirds of the scene. Lava flows are distributed around remnants of large dissected cones, the largest of which is Cerro Luxsar. On the middle left edge of the image are the Olca and Parumastrato volcanoes, which appear in blue due to a lack of vegetation (colored red in this composite). This image covers an area 60 kilometers (37 miles) wide and 60 kilometers (37 miles) long in three bands of the reflected visible and infrared wavelength region. It was acquired on April 7, 2000. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high-resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER will provide scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping and monitoring dynamic conditions and temporal change. Examples of applications include monitoring glacial advances and retreats, potentially active volcanoes, thermal pollution, and coral reef degradation, identifying crop stress, determining cloud morphology and physical properties, evaluating wetlands, mapping surface temperature of soils and geology, and measuring surface heat balance. |
|
Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka
…
PIA03514
Sol (our sun)
ASTER
| Title |
Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
On the night of June 4, 2001, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) captured this thermal image of the erupting Shiveluch volcano. Located on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, Shiveluch rises to an altitude of 2,447 meters (8,028 feet). The active lava dome complex is seen as a bright (hot) area on the summit of the volcano. To the southwest, a second hot area is either a debris avalanche or hot ash deposit. Trailing to the west is a 25-kilometer (15-mile) ash plume, seen as a cold "cloud" streaming from the summit. At least 60 large eruptions have occurred here during the last 10,000 years, the largest historical eruptions were in 1854 and 1964. Because Kamchatka is located along the major aircraft routes between North America/Europe and Asia, this area is constantly monitored for potential ash hazards to aircraft. The area is part of the "Ring of Fire," a string of volcanoes that encircles the Pacific Ocean. The lower image is the same as the upper, except it has been color-coded: red is hot, light greens to dark green are progressively colder, and gray/black are the coldest areas. ASTER is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched Dec. 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. |
|
ASTER Images San Francisco B
…
PIA02606
Sol (our sun)
ASTER
| Title |
ASTER Images San Francisco Bay Area |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This image of the San Francisco Bay region was acquired on March 3, 2000 by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA's Terra satellite. With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region, and its high spatial resolution of 15 to 90 meters about 50 to 300 feet ), ASTER will image Earth for the next 6 years to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. Image: This image covers an area 60 kilometers (37 miles) wide and 75 kilometers (47 miles) long in three bands of the reflected visible and infrared wavelength region. The combination of bands portrays vegetation in red, and urban areas in gray. Sediment in the Suisun Bay, San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean shows up as lighter shades of blue. Along the west coast of the San Francisco Peninsula, strong surf can be seen as a white fringe along the shoreline. A powerful rip tide is visible extending westward from Daly City into the Pacific Ocean. In the lower right corner, the wetlands of the South San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge appear as large dark blue and brown polygons. The high spatial resolution of ASTER allows fine detail to be observed in the scene. The main bridges of the area (San Mateo, San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Golden Gate, Richmond-San Rafael, Benicia-Martinez, and Carquinez) are easily picked out, connecting the different communities in the Bay area. Shadows of the towers along the Bay Bridge can be seen over the adjacent bay water. With enlargement the entire road network can be easily mapped, individual buildings are visible, including the shadows of the high-rises in downtown San Francisco. Inset: This enlargement of the San Francisco Airport highlights the high spatial resolution of ASTER. With further enlargement and careful examination, airplanes can be seen at the terminals. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. Science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER will provide scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping, and monitoring dynamic conditions and temporal change. Example, applications are: monitoring glacial advances and retreats, monitoring potentially active volcanoes, identifying crop stress, determining cloud morphology and physical properties, wetlands evaluation, thermal pollution monitoring, coral reef degradation, surface temperature mapping of soils and geology, and measuring surface heat balance. |
|
ASTER Images Tokyo
PIA02607
Sol (our sun)
ASTER
| Title |
ASTER Images Tokyo |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This image of the city of Tokyo was acquired on March 22, 2000 by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA's Terra satellite. With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region, and its high spatial resolution of 15 to 90 meters (about 50 to 300 feet), ASTER will image the Earth for the next 6 years to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. This false color infrared image covers an area 60 km wide and 75 km long in three bands of the short wavelength infrared region, with a spatial resolution of 15 m. It shows part of the Tokyo metropolitan area extending south to Yokohama, included are the Ginza District, Haneda airport and the Imperial Palace. To the west, Tokyo is hemmed in by mountains, covered with forests (displayed in red), on the southeast, Tokyo Bay is one of the world's great harbors. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. Science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER will provide scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping, and monitoring dynamic conditions and temporal change. Example applications are: monitoring glacial advances and retreats, monitoring potentially active volcanoes, identifying crop stress, determining cloud morphology and physical properties, wetlands evaluation, thermal pollution monitoring, coral reef degradation, surface temperature mapping of soils and geology, and measuring surface heat balance. |
|
ASTER Images San Francisco B
…
PIA02605
Sol (our sun)
ASTER
| Title |
ASTER Images San Francisco Bay Area |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
These images of the San Francisco Bay region were acquired on March 3, 2000 by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA's Terra satellite. Each covers an area 60 kilometers (37 miles) wide and 75 kilometers (47 miles) long. With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region, and its high spatial resolution of 15 to 90 meters (about 50 to 300 feet), ASTER will image the Earth for the next 6 years to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. Upper Left: The color infrared composite uses bands in the visible and reflected infrared. Vegetation is red, urban areas are gray, sediment in the bays shows up as lighter shades of blue. Thanks to the 15 meter (50-foot) spatial resolution, shadows of the towers along the Bay Bridge can be seen. Upper right: A composite of bands in the short wave infrared displays differences in soils and rocks in the mountainous areas. Even though these regions appear entirely vegetated in the visible, enough surface shows through openings in the vegetation to allow the ground to be imaged. Lower left: This composite of multispectral thermal bands shows differences in urban materials in varying colors. Separation of materials is due to differences in thermal emission properties, analogous to colors in the visible. Lower right: This is a color coded temperature image of water temperature, derived from the thermal bands. Warm waters are in white and yellow, colder waters are blue. Suisun Bay in the upper right is fed directly from the cold Sacramento River. As the water flows through San Pablo and San Francisco Bays on the way to the Pacific, the waters warm up. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. Science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER will provide scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping, and monitoring dynamic conditions and temporal change. Example applications are: monitoring glacial advances and retreats, monitoring potentially active volcanoes, identifying crop stress, determining cloud morphology and physical properties, wetlands, evaluation, thermal pollution monitoring, coral reef degradation, surface temperature mapping of soils and geology, and measuring surface heat balance. |
|
Saharan Dust Cloud Sails Tow
…
PIA03539
Sol (our sun)
Multi-angle Imaging SpectroR
…
| Title |
Saharan Dust Cloud Sails Toward U.S. |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
A huge dust cloud blown westward from the Algerian desert is now wafting over the southeastern United States. The cloud, about the size of the entire continent, was expected to produce dramatic sunsets and possibly a light coating of red-brown dust on vehicles from Florida to Texas. This image, captured by JPL's Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) aboard the NASA Earth Observing System's Terra Satellite on July 20, 2005, shows the dust cloud just off the west coast of Africa near Mauritania and Senegal. The image covers about 1,800 kilometers (1,200 miles) north-south, and 400 kilometers (260 miles) east-west. MISR, which views Earth at nine different angles in four wavelengths, can derive the amount, size and shape of airborne particles. This means it can distinguish desert dust, by far the most common non-spherical atmospheric aerosol, from pollution and forest fire particles, which are typically spherical. This image was taken by MISR's 26 degree forward-viewing camera on Terra Orbit 29724, Path 208, Blocks 69-81. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer [ http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/ ] observes the daylit Earth continuously from pole to pole, and the entire globe about once per week. MISR was built and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Office of Earth Science, Washington, DC. The Terra satellite is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology. |
|
ASTER Suez Canal
PIA02661
Sol (our sun)
ASTER
| Title |
ASTER Suez Canal |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
One of the most important waterways in the world, the Suez Canal runs north to south across the Isthmus of Suez in northeastern Egypt. This image of the canal covers an area 36 kilometers (22 miles) wide and 60 kilometers (47 miles) long in three bands of the reflected visible and infrared wavelength region. It shows the northern part of the canal, with the Mediterranean Sea just visible in the upper right corner. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez, an arm of the Red Sea. The artificial canal provides an important shortcut for ships operating between both European and American ports and ports located in southern Asia, eastern Africa, and Oceania. With a length of about 195 kilometers (121 miles) and a minimum channel width of 60 meters (197 feet), the Suez Canal is able to accommodate ships as large as 150,000 tons fully loaded. Because no locks interrupt traffic on this sea level waterway, the transit time only averages about 15 hours. ASTER acquired this scene on May 19, 2000. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high-resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high-resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER will provide scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping and monitoring dynamic conditions and temporal, change. Examples of applications include monitoring glacial advances and retreats, potentially active volcanoes, thermal pollution, and coral reef degradation, identifying crop stress, determining cloud morphology and physical properties, evaluating wetlands, mapping surface temperature of soils and geology, and measuring surface heat balance. |
|
ASTER Washington, D.C.
PIA02655
Sol (our sun)
ASTER
| Title |
ASTER Washington, D.C. |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
The White House, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Washington Monument with its shadow are all visible in this image of Washington, D.C. With its 15-meter spatial resolution, ASTER can see individual buildings. Taken on June 1, 2000, this image covers an area 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) wide and 13.7 kilometers (8.2 miles) long in three bands of the reflected visible and infrared wavelength region. The combination of visible and near infrared bands displays vegetation in red and water in dark grays. The Potomac River flows from the middle left to the bottom center. The large red area west of the river is Arlington National Cemetery. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high-resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER will provide scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping and monitoring dynamic conditions and temporal change. Examples of applications include monitoring glacial advances and retreats, potentially active volcanoes, thermal pollution, and coral reef degradation, identifying crop stress, determining cloud morphology and physical properties, evaluating wetlands, mapping surface temperature of soils and geology, and measuring surface heat balance. |
|
Hurricane Katrina as Observe
…
PIA04178
Sol (our sun)
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
…
| Title |
Hurricane Katrina as Observed by NASA's Spaceborne Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Figure 1: click on image for larger AIRS microwave image At 1:30 a.m. local time this morning, the remnants of (now Tropical Depression) Katrina were centered on the Mississippi-Tennessee border. This microwave image from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument on NASA's Aqua spacecrat shows that the area of most intense precipitation was concentrated to the north of the center of activity. The infrared image shows how the storms look through an AIRS Infrared window channel. Window channels measure the temperature of the cloud tops or the surface of the Earth in cloud-free regions. The lowest temperatures are associated with high, cold cloud tops that make up the top of the hurricane. The infrared signal does not penetrate through clouds, so the purple color indicates the cool cloud tops of the storm. In cloud-free areas, the infrared signal is retrieved at the Earth's surface, revealing warmer temperatures. Cooler areas are pushing to purple and warmer areas are pushing to red. The microwave image (figure 1) reveals where the heaviest precipitation in the hurricane is taking place. The blue areas within the storm show the location of this heavy precipitation. Blue areas outside of the storm where there are moderate or no clouds are where the cold (in the microwave sense) sea surface shines through. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Experiment, with its visible, infrared, and microwave detectors, provides a three-dimensional look at Earth's weather. Working in tandem, the three instruments can make simultaneous observations all the way down to the Earth's surface, even in the presence of heavy clouds. With more than 2,000 channels sensing different regions of the atmosphere, the system creates a global, 3-D map of atmospheric temperature and humidity and provides information on clouds, greenhouse gases, and many other atmospheric phenomena. The AIRS Infrared Sounder Experiment flies onboard NASA's Aqua spacecraft and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., under contract to NASA. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
|
Hurricane Katrina as Observe
…
PIA04178
Sol (our sun)
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
…
| Title |
Hurricane Katrina as Observed by NASA's Spaceborne Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Figure 1: click on image for larger AIRS microwave image At 1:30 a.m. local time this morning, the remnants of (now Tropical Depression) Katrina were centered on the Mississippi-Tennessee border. This microwave image from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument on NASA's Aqua spacecrat shows that the area of most intense precipitation was concentrated to the north of the center of activity. The infrared image shows how the storms look through an AIRS Infrared window channel. Window channels measure the temperature of the cloud tops or the surface of the Earth in cloud-free regions. The lowest temperatures are associated with high, cold cloud tops that make up the top of the hurricane. The infrared signal does not penetrate through clouds, so the purple color indicates the cool cloud tops of the storm. In cloud-free areas, the infrared signal is retrieved at the Earth's surface, revealing warmer temperatures. Cooler areas are pushing to purple and warmer areas are pushing to red. The microwave image (figure 1) reveals where the heaviest precipitation in the hurricane is taking place. The blue areas within the storm show the location of this heavy precipitation. Blue areas outside of the storm where there are moderate or no clouds are where the cold (in the microwave sense) sea surface shines through. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Experiment, with its visible, infrared, and microwave detectors, provides a three-dimensional look at Earth's weather. Working in tandem, the three instruments can make simultaneous observations all the way down to the Earth's surface, even in the presence of heavy clouds. With more than 2,000 channels sensing different regions of the atmosphere, the system creates a global, 3-D map of atmospheric temperature and humidity and provides information on clouds, greenhouse gases, and many other atmospheric phenomena. The AIRS Infrared Sounder Experiment flies onboard NASA's Aqua spacecraft and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., under contract to NASA. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
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ASTER Waves
PIA02662
Sol (our sun)
ASTER
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ASTER Waves |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
The pattern on the right half of this image of the Bay of Bengal is the result of two opposing wave trains colliding. This ASTER sub-scene, acquired on March 29, 2000, covers an area 18 kilometers (13 miles) wide and 15 kilometers (9 miles) long in three bands of the reflected visible and infrared wavelength region. The visible and near-infrared bands highlight surface waves due to specular reflection of sunlight off of the wave faces. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high-resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the data products. Dr. Anne Kahle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is the U.S. science team leader, Moshe Pniel of JPL is the project manager. ASTER is the only high-resolution imaging sensor on Terra. The primary goal of the ASTER mission is to obtain high-resolution image data in 14 channels over the entire land surface, as well as black and white stereo images. With revisit time of between 4 and 16 days, ASTER will provide the capability for repeat coverage of changing areas on Earth's surface. The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER will provide scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping and monitoring dynamic conditions and temporal change. Examples of applications include monitoring glacial advances and retreats, potentially active volcanoes, thermal pollution, and coral reef degradation, identifying crop stress, determining cloud morphology and physical properties, evaluating wetlands, mapping surface temperature of soils and geology, and measuring surface heat balance. |
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