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GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE from JPL

Magnifying glass against stormy sky

Clearing the Air on Weather Versus Climate

Weather and climate are easily confused, but they're not the same. JPL atmospheric scientist Eric Fetzer explains the difference and gives his thoughts on climate change.

Read more | Global Climate Change site

 

EARTH IMAGES from the JPL Photojournal

ASTER Views California

ASTER Views California's Crown Fire

The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft captured this image of the wildfire near Palmdale, Calif. on August 1, 2010. called the Crown fire. The burned areas appear in shades of gray in this simulated natural color image.

Full image and caption | More Earth images

Earth Observing Missions

Active Cavity Irradiance Monitor Satellite
Monitors total sun energy that reaches Earth.
Instrument home page

Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer on Terra satellite
Takes high-resolution images, global and local.
Instrument home page

Atmospheric Infrared Sounder on Aqua satellite
Measures air and surface temperature, clouds, humidity.
Instrument home page

CloudSat
Revealing the inner secrets of clouds.
Mission home page

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
Measures Earth's gravitational field.
Mission home page

Jason-1
Measures ocean level changes and El Niño.
Mission home page

Microwave Limb Sounder on Aura satellite
Improves understanding of ozone and precursors.
Mission home page

Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer on Terra satellite
Images Earth and aerosols from nine angles.
Instrument home page

Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2
A follow-on to Jason 1, this mission charts sea level, and its data will help improve climate and weather forecasts.
Mission home page

Quick Scatterometer
Measures ocean surface winds.
Mission home page

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
Acquired the most complete near global mapping of Earth's topography.
Mission home page

Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer on Aura satellite
Observes ozone and gases in the troposphere, the part of atmosphere where we live.
Instrument home page

Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar
First Data Collection Flight: September 18, 2007
An imaging radar instrument flown on airplanes and, eventually, uninhabited aerial vehicles to study Earth.
Mission home page

Hurricane Earl's eye, as measured by NASA's HAMSR intrument NASA Hurricane Researchers Eye Earl's Eye

Two advanced weather instruments from JPL are busy flying above Hurricane Earl, as NASA's field campaign to study how hurricanes form and intensify continues.

Read more (Sept. 2)

AIRS image of Hurricane Earl NASA Images Dissect Hurricane Earl

As the U.S. East Coast prepares to duke it out with large and powerful Hurricane Earl, NASA satellites and instruments are busy gathering valuable information on the storm.

Read more (Sept. 1)

Deviations from normal sea surface temperatures (left) and sea surface heights (right) NASA/NOAA Study Finds El Niños are Growing Stronger

A new type of El Niño is becoming more common and progressively stronger, according to a new NASA/NOAA study that has potential implications for long-term weather forecasting.

Read more (Aug. 25)

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What's Up for September What's Up for September

Get ready for International Observe the Moon Night on September 18

CloudSat 3-D View: Hurricane Earl CloudSat 3-D View of Hurricane Earl

NASA's CloudSat spacecraft captured the eye and clouds around Hurricane Earl on Aug. 31, 2010.

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NASA's AIRS Instrument Sees Spread of Wildfire Pollution NASA's AIRS Instrument Sees Spread of Wildfire Pollution

The animation focuses on the Russian fires, as seen from above the North Pole.

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