Data in Action

All across the planet, NASA Earth science data are used to meet real-world challenges.

Featured Data in Action

This map, which is a segment of a larger map, shows changes in avian abundance in portions of the United States and Canada. Red colors indicate declining abundance, whereas blue indicates increasing abundance.

5 MIN READ

Citizen Science and MODIS Data Reveal Patterns of Bird Population Change

The eBird project uses NASA data and observations from amateur birdwatchers to provide insights into the decline in avian populations throughout North America.

June 17, 2025

This Day/Night Band image from the VIIRS instrument aboard the Suomi NPP satellite features an aurora in the northern hemisphere on February 22, 2017.

5 MIN READ

VIIRS Day/Night Band Data Augments Aurora Forecast Model Predictions

A comparison of aurora forecasts with actual satellite observations suggests VIIRS DNB data can enhance space weather prediction efforts.

May 30, 2025

Filters

4 MIN READ

The Chandeleur Barrier Islands: Hurricane Katrina 10 Years Later

Examining changes and recovery of the Chandeleur Barrier Islands post-Hurricane Katrina using remote sensing data.

Aug. 26, 2015

MODIS daytime LST image of Munich, Germany, and the surrounding area during the 2003 heatwave. The blue color indicates colder temperatures. Patches of pale blue areas among the yellow, orange, and red areas indicate locations of vegetation

6 MIN READ

Urban Heat Islands, Wildfire Risk Mapping, and Archaeological Resource Analysis

NASA Earth observation data is used to map urban heat patterns in Munich, predict wildfire risk in Sardinia using vegetation phenology, and identify archaeological resource networks in Peru.

Aug. 5, 2015

drought severity index (DSI) for Uruguay in March 2015, it combines MODIS LST (MOD11A2), MODIS spectral bands (MOD09A1) to form an NDWI, and NOAA precipitation data to create a map showing the level of drought severity throughout the country

3 MIN READ

Monitoring Drought in Uruguay Using Earth Data

See how a NASA DEVELOP team used MODIS data to create a drought-monitoring tool to benefit the agriculture and energy sectors.

July 1, 2015

3 MIN READ

Irrigation and Land Use Change in Tamil Nadu

See how MODIS data are used to determine areas susceptible to water-stress to show the relative health of the vegetation compared to the same area with healthy vegetation.

June 25, 2015