NOAA satellites continuously scan the surface of the Earth, collecting data about the atmosphere, land, and oceans. The data they collect is transmitted to NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service, where a team of scientists and supercomputers process it using complex algorithms. But how can we make sense of all this information?
One way is by creating a visual representation of it, such as a chart, graph, or in our case, maps. When environmental information is displayed as a map, or superimposed over one, it helps provide an accessible way to understand it as well as recognize trends and patterns. This can become essential when using large amounts of data to make complex analyses and data-driven decisions. Plus, it’s a form of art that grabs our attention and keeps our interest.
These examples of “Data Maps” show variables such as light absorption, energy radiation, and surface temperatures, which can be used to measure the state of our planet.
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NOAA's polar-orbiting satellites are monitoring higher than average sea surface temperatures…
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An unsettled late-July weather pattern is bringing persistent clouds and above-normal precipitation…
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An unsettled late-July weather pattern is bringing persistent clouds and above-normal precipitation…
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The Suomi NPP satellite's VIIRS instrument captured this detailed thermal imagery showing the…
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Much like last February, unseasonable warmth spread across the southern and eastern United States…
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Forty-eight days after JPSS-1 (NOAA-20) was launched into Earth orbit, it sent back CrIS Imagery of…
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The ocean floor is largely unexplored - ship based measurements, such as sonar, have mapped a small…
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El Nino is part of a global climate cycle that typically occurs every 2 to 5 years, and is…