Earth Observatory

Spring Rains Saturate Michigan – NASA Science 0

The start of spring 2026 brought bouts of heavy rain to much of Michigan. Above-normal levels of precipitation in March and early April—exacerbated by snowmelt in the northern part of the state—saturated soils and caused damaging flooding along multiple rivers. A flood watch spanned the entirety of both the upper and lower peninsulas as rain

Super Typhoon Sinlaku – NASA Science 0

In mid-April 2026, a powerful typhoon bore down on the Mariana Islands in the North Pacific Ocean. The storm, Super Typhoon Sinlaku, was notable for reaching such exceptional strength so early in the year. The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured this image at about 03:30 Universal Time (1:30 p.m. local time) on April

A Volcanic Medley Near Mammoth Lakes 0

SCIENCE

April 8, 2026

Take a tour through volcanic history on the edge of the Sierra Nevada near Mammoth Lakes, California. Between the tall granite peaks to the west and the Basin and Range province to the east, overlapping volcanic complexes imprint the landscape with a collection of craters, cones, and calderas. The area, still restless today, draws interest

Réunion Island Lava Reaches the Sea 0
- SCIENCE
- April 2, 2026
Located 700 kilometers (440 miles) east of Madagascar, Réunion Island is the product of a long-lived mantle hotspot on the floor of the Indian Ocean. The island first emerged above the ocean’s surface about 2 million years ago. It remains active today, with frequent eruptions from Piton de la Fournaise, a shield volcano on the
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A Most Unusual Lake – NASA Science 0
- Astrobiology, Earth Observatory, Ice & Glaciers, Landsat 9, Planetary Analogs, SCIENCE, Surface Water, Water on Earth
- March 11, 2026
Scientists estimate that Earth is home to more than 100 million lakes. Among the most unusual is Lake Unter-See, one of Antarctica’s largest and deepest surface lakes, known for its distinctive water chemistry. Its ice-covered waters have exceptionally high levels of dissolved oxygen, low dissolved carbon dioxide, and a strongly alkaline (basic) pH. The OLI
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Smoke Rises Over Big Cypress National Preserve 0
- Aqua, Earth Observatory, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Wildfires
- March 3, 2026
On February 22, 2026, a wildland fire was discovered in Big Cypress National Preserve, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Naples, Florida. The blaze, dubbed the National fire, moved through dry vegetation and sent a plume of smoke billowing over parts of the preserve and nearby communities. The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured
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