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Data in Action

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

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

3 MIN READ

Using Geospatial Data to Assess Extreme temperatures of Public Transit

In Spring 2017, DEVELOP researchers in Phoenix used NASA data to determine how hot area bus stops are in summer to determine which ones need shelters.

Dec. 27, 2017

southeastern Australia, comparing the daily composite Terra and Aqua Combined MODIS 500 meter resolution BRDF Measurements data

4 MIN READ

Predicting Wind Erosion in Australia Using MODIS BRDF/Albedo Data

Learn how surface reflectance and albedo as measured by satellite data help scientists understand the topography and vegetation cover of Earth surfaces.

Nov. 30, 2017

A portion of the study area from He and others (2017) is shown in this MODIS Land Cover image from 2012

6 MIN READ

Forest Expansion, Drought Impact, and Woodland Mapping

Explore how MODIS data was used to support forest monitoring in Siberia, agricultural drought analysis across Africa, and fractal-based woodland extraction in Beijing.

Oct. 31, 2017