The Ocean Touches Everything: Celebrate Earth Day with NASA

On Earth Day, Learn How NASA Investigates the Blue in Our Blue Planet:

 Celebrate Earth Day with NASA as we delve into the mesmerizing world of our blue planet. Join us on a journey to explore the intricate connections between the sea, sky, land, and climate through an exciting array of in-person and virtual activities, captivating talks, and engaging trivia sessions.

Rivers can flush rainwater over hundreds of miles to the sea, changing the makeup of coastal waters in ways that scientists are still discovering. In this satellite image from December 2023, a large, sediment-rich plume from the Mississippi River spreads down the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas following winter rains.

For nearly half a century, NASA and its collaborative partners have been at the forefront of oceanic exploration, gathering invaluable data across all the world's ocean basins using cutting-edge technologies such as satellites, airborne instruments, and space shuttles.

Recently, on April 11, NASA unveiled the first breathtaking images captured by the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite. Launched on February 8, 2024, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, PACE joins the ranks of revolutionary Earth-observing satellites like the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) and Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich.

Take a glimpse at one of the stunning images released, showcasing vibrant hues of pink and green representing diverse communities of phytoplankton. These microscopic organisms play a vital role in our planet's ecosystem, influencing climate patterns and supporting marine life.

To delve deeper into PACE and NASA's stellar Earth-observing fleet, join us for an immersive in-person celebration at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on April 18 and 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT. Experience:
- More than a dozen captivating Earth science activities, including a fascinating 3D glacier puzzle and intriguing natural hazards trivia.
- Step-by-step guides on creating captivating animated GIFs using NASA Earth science imagery.
- Engage with the Earth Information Center, offering visually rich data visualizations and immersive experiences showcasing our dynamic planet's transformations.
- Dive into two captivating stories showcased on the Earth Information Center's Hyperwall. One illuminates how African communities, in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute, leverage NASA Earth science data to monitor forest habitats for chimpanzees and track agricultural land use over time. The other story delves into the collaboration between NASA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, highlighting how remote sensing data aids in monitoring methane emissions from landfills.

NASA’s PACE satellite’s Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) detects light across a hyperspectral range, which gives scientists new information to differentiate communities of phytoplankton – a unique ability of NASA’s newest Earth-observing satellite. This first image released from OCI identifies two different communities of these microscopic marine organisms in the ocean off the coast of South Africa on Feb. 28, 2024. The central panel of this image shows Synechococcus in pink and picoeukaryotes in green. The left panel of this image shows a natural color view of the ocean, and the right panel displays the concentration of chlorophyll-a, a photosynthetic pigment used to identify the presence of phytoplankton.

Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate Earth Day with NASA and discover the wonders of our planet's blue realm like never before.

Explore the boundless depths of our oceans with NASA's groundbreaking research efforts that span a rich history of unraveling the mysteries of our blue planet, our cherished home. Through a blend of in-person and virtual Earth Day events, NASA invites you to embark on a journey of discovery and understanding of our oceans like never before.

NASA's commitment to oceanic exploration is exemplified by its innovative tools and data-driven approach, empowering decision-makers globally to monitor our ever-changing climate and address environmental challenges. Collaborating with state and local governments, international space agencies, and esteemed organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), NASA pioneers open science, making data accessible, inclusive, and transparent for all

Join NASA as a citizen scientist this Earth Day and contribute to transformative initiatives such as the NeMO-Net iPad game, where you can aid in classifying coral reefs, or engage with the GLOBE Observer app to monitor clouds, water, and plant life in your area. By participating in NASA's citizen science projects, you become part of a global community driving meaningful discoveries and contributing to scientific publications

Celebrate Earth Day with NASA, where science meets adventure, and together, we unravel the wonders of our planet's majestic oceans for the betterment of all.

To learn more about NASA’s Earth Day activities, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-day/.