There’s a saying that we don’t realise the extent until we see the proof in real time. Climate change is one such threat that’s not only impacting our present but will also inadvertently impact our future. And the present reality has been captured vividly through the lens of NASA.
The outer space organization provides cold, hard evidence of Earth’s transformation, which truly explains the undeniable impact of human activity on our planet.
Here’s a rundown of the top 21 images from NASA that show how real climate change is and how it has impacted our planet over the years.
1. Arctic Sea Ice Decline: 1984 vs 2016
We hear about glaciers melting and sea levels rising, but getting a real-time picture of the same and a stark comparison of the Arctic Sea Ice decline from 1984 to 2016 is truly a catastrophe. The image shows a significant loss in ice coverage, explaining the rising temperatures.
See which places are in the danger zone with this list of cities most at risk from climate change.
2. Greenland Ice Sheet Meltdown: July 2019
NASA’s MODIS satellite captured Greenland shedding 10 billion tons of surface ice in one day in July 2019, which is alarming, to say the least. The image showcases bright blue meltwater lakes scattered across the ice sheet.
3. Amazon Rainforest Fires: August 2019
A satellite view of the ongoing forest fires in the Amazon Rainforest shows dense smoke from the Amazon fires spreading over South America. The image was captured by NASA’s Aqua satellite, revealing the extent of the deforestation caused by the fire.
4. California Wildfires: November 2018
While on the topic of forest fires, the California Wildfires and their devastation were also captured in November 2018, taken by NASA’s Landsat 8 satellite. The event captured how devastating the fire was in Paradise, California, due to prolonged droughts and heat waves.
Understand how moisture impacts your day with this guide on what humidity percentage means and what counts as high humidity.
5. Lake Mead Water Level Drop: 2000 vs 2021
Witnessing how urbanization is taking a toll on the environment is devastating. One such impact was seen when NASA’s Earth Observatory compared images of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the U.S., revealing a significant drop in water levels between 2000 and 2021.
6. Australian Bushfires: January 2020
In 2020, NASA captured the wild bushfires in Australia, showing dense smoke plumes rising from southeastern Australia. The image was captured by NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite and is one of the most devastating fire seasons.
7. Retreat of Muir Glacier, Alaska: 1941 vs 2004
There’s a comparative photo series of Muir Glacier, taken in 1941 and again in 2004, done by NASA, which showcases the glacier’s massive retreat. What was once an ice-filled fjord has now transformed into glacial loss, citing the rising atmospheric heat.
8. Venice Flooding: November 2019
Venice experienced one of the worst floods in November 2019, and the NASA satellites managed to capture an unusually high tide flooding Venice in November 2019. The image also showcased how extensively some urban areas were submerged due to the floods.
9. Siberian Wildfires: July 2021
NASA’s Aqua satellite also captured the damaging sights of the Siberian wildfires, which were engulfing the forests in July 2021. There were images of the smoke clouds drifting across the Arctic in the satellite images, too.
10. Antarctica’s Ice Shelf Collapse: Larsen B, 2002
NASA satellites captured the collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002, showing how a massive 3,250-square-kilometer ice shelf disintegrated in just over a month. This image was a standalone reminder of the fragility of the polar ice and how we are extensively devastating it.
Learn the science behind those unexpected weather shifts in this breakdown of the causes of sudden temperature swings.
11. Hurricane Harvey Flooding in Houston: August 2017
The impact of Hurricane Harvey was devastating for the people living in Houston, Texas. NASA managed to capture the before-and-after images of Houston during Hurricane Harvey, showing widespread flooding caused by unprecedented rainfall.
12. Mount Kilimanjaro’s Shrinking Glaciers: 1993 vs 2000
Over the decades, receding ice sheets and shrinking glaciers have become the norm, mainly due to the rapidly worsening global climate. NASA’s Landsat satellites showcased the steady disappearance of glaciers atop Mount Kilimanjaro between 1993 and 2000, symbolizing the direction and downfall of the world.
13. Drought in the Colorado River Basin: 2000 vs 2021
From NASA images, witnessing the growing drought over the Colorado River Basin from 2000 to 2021 refers to the stark desaturation of landscapes. The images also showcase the reduced snowpack and persistent drought, and how they have drastically reduced the reservoir levels.
14. Thwaites Glacier Cracks: December 2020
One of the most revolutionary images captured by NASA that showcases how real climate change is has to be the recording of the Thwaites Glacier cracks. The images showcased deep fractures forming near the ice front. It has been dubbed the “Doomsday Glacier” because its collapse could raise global sea levels, leading to further catastrophes.
Get a clear understanding of air moisture with this guide on humidity percentage and what qualifies as high humidity.
15. California Drought Impact on Agriculture: 2011 vs 2014
NASA Earth Observatory images show agricultural zones in California’s Central Valley transitioning from green to brown over a decade. Numerous factors, including the shifts in the climate, wildfires, and ongoing drought in the region have brought about this change itself. What was once one of the most productive farming regions in the U.S has now transformed into a brown wasteland.
16. Coral Bleaching at Great Barrier Reef: 2016
NASA’s airborne and satellite data visualized extensive coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef 2016. This showcases the “whitening” of corals caused by the consistently rising sea temperatures, further alerting us to the threat to the marine ecosystem.
17. Jakarta Sinking: Urban Expansion & Sea Level Rise
There’s a saying, “As Jakarta grows, so does the water level surrounding it.” NASA has captured this alarming sea level rise, explaining how a sprawling coastal city is increasingly vulnerable to flooding. The rising seas and groundwater extraction in excessive amounts are one of the leading reasons behind this issue.
18. Dust Storms Over the Middle East: June 2022
The dust storms that took over the Middle East in June 2022 were captured by NASA’s Terra satellite, showcasing these storms over Iraq and Syria. The intense and ongoing storms brought drought and further desertification around these regions, affecting the air quality and agriculture.
19. Glacier National Park Ice Loss: 1984 vs 2015
Satellite images captured by NASA show the retreating glaciers over the Glacier National Park between 1984 and 2015. What was once a snow-covered expanse is now reduced to fragments, highlighting the park’s namesake disappearing before our eyes.
20. Ganges Delta Flooding: July 2020
NASA’s satellite images also captured extreme monsoon flooding in the Ganges Delta in July 2020. These resulted from increased intensity of seasonal rainfall around the delta, further endangering the lives of people and the nearby farmlands.
21. Deforestation in Borneo: 2000 vs 2020
Comparing two decades of NASA imagery, this view of Borneo showcases the scale of deforestation driven by palm oil plantations. What was once a flourishing rainforest has now been reduced to barren and fragmented lands, contributing to the rising greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
Final Words
Climate change is, without a doubt, one of the most alarming threats to humans. However, humans are driving themselves to the precipice of destruction with rapid urbanization, ongoing deforestation, lack of climate change protocols, and natural calamities, too. NASA has captured and showcased these devastating renditions of the true picture of climate change and the reality surrounding it.
