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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Earth absorbs energy from the Sun in the form of shortwave energy (or "radiation"),…
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The relative greenness of the planet is shown here using a time-smoothed Normalized Difference…
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n polar regions, areas of sea ice -- ice atop ocean waters -- not only supports entire ecosystems,…
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This data visualization shows the forecast minimum surface temperatures across the western…
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Predicting snowfall amounts is part of NOAA’s mission, and so is measuring the amount of snow…
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The temperature of ocean surface waters affects many aspects of weather and climate around the…
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The rotation of tornadoes creates a distinctive signature in radar data, and can be used to…