satellites Archives

A map showing global land cover and two graphs.

Vegetation Carries the Signature of Recent Precipitation

by Valeriy Ivanov 3 October 202228 September 2022

Vegetation response to precipitation is important for near-term weather predictability, and researchers show that such a response can occur within a few days and last up to two months.

Two maps showing surface temperature with different colors. The first map is for the period of 1871-1980 and the second is for the period of 1981-2010.

Editors' Highlights

A Dilemma About Radiative Climate Feedback in Recent Decades

by Minghua Zhang 30 September 202228 September 2022

Given the unambiguous climate warming in recent decades, is it possible to infer radiative climate feedback from modern satellite measurements of the energy budget of the Earth?

A bright red, orange, and yellow thermal image of London and the surrounding area maps hotter and cooler areas of the city. The center of the image is the city of London, which is yellow, indicating that it is hotter than surrounding suburbs, which appear in varying shades of orange and red. The suburbs tend to become cooler, and appear darker red, moving toward the edges of the image. The River Thames snakes from right to left across the center of the image. It and several water reservoirs to the left of center are black, indicating that they are much cooler than the neighboring land.

Research Spotlights

Satellites Can Accurately Take Earth’s Temperature

by Rebecca Dzombak 28 September 202228 September 2022

Satellite-based measurements of land surface temperature may prove to be an essential pairing with near-surface air temperatures to understand global warming and cooling trends.

Landsat image of the Bangweulu wetlands in northern Zambia.

Editors' Vox

Monitoring the Health of Our Planet using Earth Observations

by Argyro Kavvada 8 September 202230 September 2022

A new book explores how Earth science knowledge addresses critical global challenges including sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and climate change.

A small coastal shipping town in Japan is devastated by an earthquake. In this photo taken from a plane, the wreckage of hundreds of buildings can be seen, and only a handful remain standing. In the center of the image, a small yacht is perched on top of one of the only remaining buildings. The town is surrounded by mountains and forests. One of the plane’s wheels is visible in the lower left corner of the image.

Research Spotlights

Months of Gravity Changes Preceded the Tōhoku Earthquake

by Sarah Derouin 1 September 20221 September 2022

Using GRACE satellite data, researchers discovered anomalous gravimetric signals that occurred before a seismic event that started deep within Earth.

Deb Haaland, wearing a gray suit with a red and black blouse, reads from a black book as she swears in the new USGS director. David Applegate, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, and red bow tie, stands opposite her with his right hand raised as he is sworn in. The pair stand in front of a large white marble fireplace set in a wood-paneled wall. The wall is decorated with Native American artwork, and the fireplace is framed by an American flag and a light blue flag for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

News

New USGS Director: Partnerships Are Our Superpower

by Kimberly M. S. Cartier 26 August 202226 August 2022

The new director hopes to strengthen existing partnerships, build and retain a more diverse and inclusive workforce, and deliver the agency’s science to those who need it most.

We are in the middle of solar cycle 25, which means that the Sun has been slowly ramping up its sunspot and flare activity for the past few years.

Features

11 Discoveries Awaiting Us at Solar Max

by Kimberly M. S. Cartier 25 August 202230 September 2022

Each solar cycle might seem like the same old story, but one thing has changed significantly since the previous solar maximum–our technology.

Emil Cherrington stands on a boat in the middle of a river in Belize in May 2019.

Features

Emil Cherrington: Bringing Satellite Data Down to Earth

by Kimberly M. S. Cartier 25 July 202225 July 2022

Showing how eyes in the sky can help people on the ground.

Orbits of the asteroids from the Gaia Data Release 3 up to Jupiter’s distance

News

Galaxy Mapper Tracks Asteroids Closer to Home

by Jure Japelj 14 July 202214 July 2022

The Gaia mission’s asteroid survey will help dig deeper into the solar system’s rocky history.

Two figures from the paper that show wave measurements in the presence of sea ice using satellite remote sensing.

Editors' Highlights

Satellites Remotely Measure Ocean Waves and Sea Ice Interactions

by Ryan P. Mulligan 12 July 202228 September 2022

A new method for using satellite observations from multiple sensors improves measurements of ocean waves as they propagate through and interact with sea ice.

Features from AGU Journals