Earth Day 2020: Biosphere

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    ID: 13581 Produced Video

    NASA Observes the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day Live Shots

    April 16th, 2020
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    Click here for quick link to B-ROLLClick here for EARTH DAY TOOLKIT including how you can learn more about NASA at HomeQuick link to canned interview in Spanish with Sandra CauffmanQuick link to canned interview with Michelle Thaller || In 1968 William Anders, an astronaut on the Apollo 8 mission, captured “Earthrise” — a photo of Earth appearing above the Moon’s horizon. The photo helped unite a generation to appreciate the fragility and beauty of our planet and inspire the first Earth Day less than two years later. To mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, NASA is reflecting on what we’ve learned about our home planet. Chat with NASA scientists on Wednesday, April 22 from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT to find out how NASA satellites have changed our understanding of Earth, how different technologies have benefited the environment and how viewers can join NASA in observing Earth Day from home. * Interviews will be conducted using video chat programs including Skype and Facetime *To Schedule an interview fill out this form: https://forms.gle/1vHuKfhheLid7TKu8 NASA has been at the forefront of space exploration, from landing robots on Mars to sending humans into space. But one of NASA’s biggest fields of study is our planet, Earth. Of all the planets that NASA studies, none have matched the complexity of Earth. NASA’s Earth observing satellites provide a global mosaic of change over time. That coupled with observations from the air, sea and land provide a robust view of our dynamic planet. NASA technology is all around us. The very technology that helps us understand planets in the solar system also helps us understand and protect Earth. NASA’s aeronautics division is using ‘spinoff’ technology right now to develop an all-electric aircraft that will make airline travel greener. Another division is testing a strong, lightweight composite material that will make wind turbines larger and more efficient. Participating IntervieweesDouglas Terrier / Chief Technologist, NASA HQSandra Cauffman / Acting Director, Earth Science Division, NASA HQ [interviews in Spanish]Carlos Del Castillo / NASA Scientist [interviews in Spanish]Annmarie Eldering/ NASA ScientistPeter Griffith/ NASA ScientistSuggested QuestionsWhen most people think of NASA, they think space exploration. What is NASA’s connection to Earth Day?What has NASA learned about Earth in the last five decades?How does NASA help to protect our environment here on Earth?NASA technology is everywhere. What are some space technologies that can benefit the environment here on Earth? Where can people learn more about NASA Earth Day activities? Find out more on Twitter @NASAEarth and online at nasa.gov/earthday ||

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    ID: 13979 Produced Video

    Climate Change Could Affect Global Agriculture within 10 Years

    Nov. 1st, 2021
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    Average global crop yields for maize, or corn, may see a decrease of 24% by late century, with the declines becoming apparent by 2030, with high greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new NASA study. Wheat, in contrast, may see an uptick in crop yields by about 17%. The change in yields is due to the projected increases in temperature, shifts in rainfall patterns and elevated surface carbon dioxide concentrations due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, making it more difficult to grow maize in the tropics and expanding wheat’s growing range. ||

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  • 
    ID: 13814 Produced Video

    SVS Demo Reel 2020

    Feb. 18th, 2021
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    This is the SVS Demo Reel submitted to SIGGRAPH 2021.Coming soon to our YouTube channel. || Music Credit:"Always A Way" by Stefan Rodescu [SACEM], Yannick Kalfayan [SACEM], Universal Production Music ||

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  • 
    ID: 13781 Produced Video

    Plants Are Struggling to Keep Up with Rising Carbon Dioxide Concentrations

    Dec. 10th, 2020
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    Plants play a key role in mitigating climate change. The more carbon dioxide they absorb during photosynthesis, the less carbon dioxide remains trapped in the atmosphere where it can cause temperatures to rise. But scientists have identified an unsettling trend – 86% of land ecosystems globally are becoming progressively less efficient at absorbing the increasing levels of CO2 from the atmosphere. || Music: A Curious Incident by Jay Price [PRS] and Paul Reeves [PRS]Complete transcript available. ||

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  • 
    ID: 13586 Produced Video

    NASA Looks Back at 50 Years of Earth Day

    April 21st, 2020
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    It’s been five decades since Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders photographed Earth peaking over the Moon’s horizon. The iconic image, dubbed Earthrise, inspired a new appreciation of the fragility of our place in the universe. Two years later, Earth Day was born to honor our home planet. As the world prepares to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, NASA reflects on how the continued growth of its fleet of Earth-observing satellites has sharpened our view of the planet’s climate, atmosphere, land, polar regions and oceans. ||

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• Newer versions

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    ID: 5075 Visualization

    Near Real-Time Global Biosphere

    Feb. 13th, 2023
    (updated Sept. 23rd, 2023)

    The latest 2.5 years of Biosphere data with date annotations. ||

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  • 
    ID: 5006 Visualization

    Global Biosphere March 2017 - Feb 2022

    Nov. 6th, 2022
    (updated Aug. 25th, 2023)

    Example composite of 5 years of Mollweide projected data of Earth's biosphere beginning March 2017 through February 2022. || This newly updated data visualization of the Earth's Biosphere was unveiled at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27). By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This data visualization represents five years' worth of data taken primarily by Suomi NPP/VIIRS satellite sensors, showing the abundance of life both on land and in the sea. In the ocean, dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, where yellow and orange represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land. On land, green represents areas of abundant plant life, such as forests and grasslands, while tan and white represent areas where plant life is sparse or non-existent, such as the deserts in Africa and the Middle East and snow-cover and ice at the poles. ||

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• Alternate versions

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    ID: 4596 Visualization

    20 Years of Global Biosphere (updated)

    Nov. 14th, 2017
    (updated Aug. 25th, 2023)

    This Mollweide projected data visualization shows 20 years of Earth's biosphere starting in September 1997 going through September 2017. Data for this visualization was collected from multiple satellites over the past twenty years. || By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This data visualization represents twenty years' worth of data taken primarily by SeaStar/SeaWiFS, Aqua/MODIS, and Suomi NPP/VIIRS satellite sensors, showing the abundance of life both on land and in the sea. In the ocean, dark blue to violet represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land. On land, green represents areas of abundant plant life, such as forests and grasslands, while tan and white represent areas where plant life is sparse or non-existent, such as the deserts in Africa and the Middle East and snow-cover and ice at the poles. ||

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