Earth Science & Natural Hazards
10 reportsRisk assessment and volcanology are read together rather than as isolated findings. This makes it possible to address what monitoring can detect and how Earth processes are measured, showing how sparse measurements or incomplete records limit certainty.
NASA Invites Public to Identify August 2026 Satellite Image
NASA Earth Observatory has released a new satellite image challenge for August 2026, inviting the public to analyze a puzzling landform and submit their interpretations based on visible clues and scientific reasoning
Chicxulub Dust May Have Fueled Lethal Firestorms
A new model of the Chicxulub impact includes ultrafine silicate dust found at fossil sites, suggesting surface temperatures may have become lethal within hours before a prolonged impact winter began
NASA's SARP Students Launch Ozone Sensors in Gulf Coast Field Campaign
Undergraduates in NASA's Student Airborne Research Program deployed ozonesonde balloons and flew on science aircraft to collect atmospheric data over the Texas Gulf Coast, gaining hands-on experience with field instruments and satellite validation
July's Buck Moon Captured Worldwide Amid Wildfires and Atmospheric Haze
Astronomers and photographers documented the July Buck Moon on July 29, 2026, as it rose through wildfire smoke and atmospheric haze, producing striking images across multiple continents and urban skylines
NISAR Satellite Data Reveals Antarctic Ice Fractures in Unprecedented Detail
NASA and ISRO have begun releasing data from the NISAR satellite's dual radar systems, offering researchers new insights into the movement and structure of Antarctic ice and other dynamic Earth surfaces
Possible Ancient Impact Crater Identified in Northern Quebec
A large circular structure in Quebec's Côte-Nord region, first noticed on Google Maps, may be a 390-million-year-old impact crater. Fieldwork and rock analysis are underway to confirm its extraterrestrial origin
NASA Prepares Six New Airborne Missions to Study Earth's Extremes
NASA is launching a new series of suborbital missions using aircraft, drones, and remote sensors to investigate wildfires, air quality, glacier retreat, and landslides, aiming to improve scientific understanding of rapid environmental change
NOAA-21 Satellite Captures Canada Wildfire Smoke Spanning Continents
A NOAA-21 satellite image from July 14, 2026, reveals vast smoke plumes from over 850 wildfires in Canada, with thick haze drifting into the northeastern United States and raising air quality concerns across borders.
Extreme Solar Storms May Exceed Previous Impact Estimates
A new analysis of solar wind data suggests that the most powerful solar storms could cause greater geomagnetic disturbances on Earth than previously calculated, with implications for satellites and power grids
Glaciers Observed Flowing Down the Himalayas from Space
A NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured detailed images of glaciers moving across the Himalayas, providing a rare perspective on the scale and dynamics of these ice flows as they descend toward the Tibetan Plateau