Science Communication Material

Air Pollution Around the World, 2005-2010
NO2GlobalLenticular_508.pdf

An at-a-glance tour of the world's nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution during the years 2005 and 2010. Discover how population correlates with this important pollutant and where its concentration has changed over time.

Understanding Earth: The Icy Arctic
Icy Arctic Final_508.pdf, Understanding Earth_The Icy Arctic.ibooks

Over the last decade, satellite data—often combined with data from other sources—have revealed that the Arctic is changing at rates faster than anywhere else on Earth. These changes are interrelated and have both long- and short-term effects on Earth’s land surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere, ultimately impacting the Earth’s climate system. To better understand the Arctic environment, scientists at NASA are working in collaboration with various experts from other federal agencies, universities, private companies, and not-for-profit organizations. This booklet—the third in the Understanding Earth series—explains how NASA keeps a close eye on the Arctic and how the changes taking place there are affecting you.

2011 NASA Science Mission Directorate
2011Calendar.pdf

Assessing Air Quality from Space
NO2-Population508.pdf

Learn about the direct connection between population density in the United States and air pollution in this striking comparison between 3 maps: the 2010 census, U.S. city lights at night, and nitrogen dioxide concentration.

Glory
2011_0120GlorySWG.pdf

Glory will improve measurements of two critical parts of the climate system: small airborne particles called aerosols and a measure of the sun’s output called total solar irradiance (TSI). This guide is a resource for science writers and journalists, providing contact information for experts working on the mission; information on the spacecraft, its instruments, and the science behind the Glory mission; feature stories about aerosols, the sun’s energy, and how these elements affect our climate. *Glory was lost in a vehicle launch failure.

Suomi NPP
NPP_MissionBrochure_Color_508Compliant.pdf

Understanding, monitoring, and predicting the course of long-term climate change and short-term weather fluctuations remains a task of profound importance. Economic competitiveness, human health and welfare, and global security all depend in part on our ability to understand and adapt to environmental changes.

Understanding Earth: Biomass Burning
BiomassBurn_final_508.pdf, Understanding Earth_Biomass Burning.ibooks

When biomass is burned, copious amounts of gases and particulate matter are released, billowing smoke plumes can fill the sky, and entire ecosystems can change in seconds. Fortunately, NASA’s Earth-observing satellites are able to monitor these changes, critical for understanding the effects biomass burning has on Earth’s atmosphere and climate system. This booklet—second in the Understanding Earth series—explains the causes and effects of biomass burning. You’ll learn about the wildfires that burned across western Russia in 2010, the 2011 Wallow Fire in Arizona that burned for nearly 984 hours, NASA’s ARCTAS mission, and more. “Understanding Earth: Biomass Burning” offers a variety of images and shows how NASA satellites provide a unique vantage point to observe and study these events.

2010 NASA Science Mission Directorate
2010Calendar.pdf

Aquarius SAC-D
2010_AquariusMissionLitho.pdf

The Aquarius/SAC-D mission maps salinity at the ocean surface to improve our understanding of Earth’s water cycle and ocean circulation. Changes in Earth’s water cycle lead to increases and decreases in ocean surface salinity, and the variations in salinity influence ocean circulation and climate. Accurate global maps of salinity made with data from Aquarius show scientists long-term changes in this important parameter.

Aquarius/SAC-D
Aquarius_Mission_Brochure.pdf, Aquarius_SAC-D_Sea Surface Salinity from Space.ibooks

Changes in sea surface salinity have large-scale effects on Earth’s water cycle and ocean circulation. Before now, scientists had studied these changes using measurements collected by ships and buoys out at sea. Fortunately, for the first time ever, NASA’s Aquarius/SAC-D satellite will provide space-based, global sea surface salinity measurements. Surface salinity data from Aquarius/SAC-D will give scientist a key to better understanding how ocean circulation is tied to global climate.