Image Gallery

Community Earth System Model

Community Earth System Model

Carvings on the exterior of an old limestone building are decaying due to acid rain.

Acid Rain Damage

Air masses in and around North America

Air Masses

This is a photo of Denver, Colorado on a day with good air quality with clear skies (top) and on a day with poor air quality with hazy skies (bottom).

Air Quality in Denver, Colorado

Altocumulus clouds

Altocumulus clouds

Altostratus clouds

Altostratus clouds

Aurora viewed from space

Aurora from International Space Station on July 25, 2010

This is a photo of a bamboo forest.

Bamboo

A Snowflake story comic strip

Big and Small, A Snowflake Story

This is a photo of labeled bike lanes on the street.

Bike Paths

Blowing snow during a blizzard reduces visibility.

Blowing snow during a blizzard reduces visibility.

Carbon cycle diagram

Carbon Cycle Diagram

Carbon Cycle diagram from NASA

Carbon Cycle Diagram from NASA

Carbon Cycle Diagram

Carbon Cycle Diagram from the DOE

Carbon Cycle diagram from the DOE with numbers

Carbon Cycle Diagram from the DOE with numbers

Carbon Cycle Diagram from the IPCC

Carbon Cycle Diagram from the IPCC

Carbon Dioxide molecule

Carbon Dioxide molecule

Carbon Monoxide molecule

Carbon Monoxide molecule

Chemical Composition of Earth's Atmosphere

Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere Diagram

Cirrocumulus clouds over a forest

Cirrocumulus clouds

Cirrostratus clouds

Cirrostratus clouds

Cirrus clouds over a winter landscape

Cirrus Clouds

Climate system from IPCC AR4

Climate system from IPCC AR4

Koppen Geiger Climate Classification

Climates of the World

Diagram of cloud types. High in the atmosphere are cirrocumulus and cirrus. In the middle of the atmosphere are altocumulus and altostratus. In the lower atmosphere are stratocumulus, stratus and cumulus. Cumulonimbus clouds can be found from near the ground up to above 50,000 feet.

Cloud Types Diagram

Diagram of how mountains create clouds

Clouds Form Due to Mountains

Clouds Form Due to Weather Fronts

Diagram of how air that is forced to rise creates clouds

Clouds Form When Air is Forced to Rise

Coal strip mine and truck carrying dirt

Coal Strip Mine

Side view (A) and weather map representation (B) of a cold front

Cold Front

This is a photo of a tractor moving a pile of steaming compost.

Composting and Reducing Food Waste

This is an image of a concentrated solar power plant that has a sunlight collection tower against a mountain backdrop.

Concentrated Solar Power

Contrails

Contrails

Three Types of Contrails

Contrails: Three Types

Coronal Holes in Ultraviolet Image of the Sun

Coronal Holes in Ultraviolet Solar Image - January 2011

Coronal Loops in UV TRACE image

Coronal Loops - UV image from TRACE - November 1999

GIF of Coronal Mass Ejection on January 4, 2002

Coronal Mass Ejection January 2002

Diagram of a cosmic ray air shower

Cosmic Ray Air Shower

Cracks in Dry Mud

Cracks in Dry Mud

This is an image of rows of legume crops in pots, outside, with equipment suspended above them.

Crop Improvement

This is a photo of corn crop alternating with soybean crop.

Crop Rotation and Managed Grazing

Cumulonimbus cloud

Cumulonimbus clouds

Cumulus clouds

Cumulus clouds

Layers of Earth's Atmosphere

Diagram of Atmosphere Layers

Two views of sunspots

Different Views of Sunspots

Exploring the Atmosphere with Dropsondes

Dropsonde in Flight

Farmland affected by draught

Drought in the central United States

Air pollution creates harmful yellow dust storms over the Korean Peninsula.

Dust storm

The Earth as seen from space

Earth

Sketch of the Earth and Sun (not to scale)

Earth and Sun

Earth Science Helped Make Frankenstein Frightening!

Earth Science Helped Make Frankenstein Frightening

Layers of Earth's Atmosphere as seen from space

Earth's Atmosphere from ISS

Diagram illustrating relative abundances of gases in Earth's atmosphere

Earth's Atmospheric Composition Diagram

Earth's Dipole Magnetic Field

Earth's Dipole Magnetic Field

diagram of Earth's energy budget for all-sky conditions including clouds

Earth's Energy Budget Diagram

A plate of salad with sliced avocado, lettuce, tomatoes on the vine, sliced bell pepper, chickpeas, cubes of sweet potato, shredded cabbage, and sprouts, with dressing drizzled over the top.

Eat A Plant Rich Diet

This is a photo of an electric car, zoomed in to show the charging port in place of a fuel filler inlet.

Electric Cars

A photo of a line of homes that have stilts to elevate them from the ground.

Elevating Homes

This is a photo of a cement sidewalk in a park taken from above. There is a park bench and some pigeons on the ground.

Emissions-free Cement

Smokestacks from an oil refinery in Commerce City, Colorado, are shown pumping black smoke into the atmosphere.

Factory Smoke

Foggy forest

Foggy Weather

Smoke rising from a forest fire over the mountains of Idaho.

Forest Fires Create Air Pollution

Pie chart showing the gases that make up the atmosphere: Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Inert Gases- mostly Argon (.96%), and Carbon Dioxide (0.04%).

Gases in Earth's Atmosphere

A geothermal power plant in Iceland

Geothermal Power

Map of where the Glacial Lake Agassiz was located in North America. The Glacial Lake Agassiz covered much of the Canadian province of Manitoba, extending into Saskatchewan and Ontario, and south into North Dakota and Minnesota.

Glacial Lake Agassiz

The graph shows global annual mean surface temperature change from 1880 to 2020. The temperature anomaly begins at -0.2 degrees Celcius in 1880 and dips down to -0.4 degrees by 1910, but then raises steadily to around zero by 1940. From 1940 to 1980 it averages around zero, but then increases steadily all the way to 2000.

Global annual mean surface temperature change

Global Atmospheric Circulation

Global Atmospheric Circulation

Graph of Sunspot Counts from 1950 to 2016

Graph of Sunspot Counts

This is an image of a multi-storied apartment building surrounded by tall buildings in a city. The terraces of the apartment building are covered in vegetation, and there are lots of trees around the perimeter of the building as well.

Green Roofs and Walls

Air pollution in Mexico City causes hazy skies that block sunlight from reaching the ground.

Haze over Mexico City

Heat transfer diagram

Heat Transfer Diagram

Diagram of how air moves in high (left) and low (right) pressure systems

High and Low Pressure Systems

This is an image of a high speed train pulling into a train station.

High Speed Trains

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)'s numeric scale measures the relative explosivity of historic eruptions.

How Big Was That Eruption? Check the Volcanic Explosivity Index!

Diagram of how clouds form

How Clouds Form

Diagram demonstrating how greenhouse gases trap heat

How Greenhouse Gases Trap Heat

Diagram of how hurricanes form

How Hurricanes Form

How Thawing Permafrost Soils Release Greenhouse Gases

How Thawing Permafrost Soils Release Greenhouse Gases

A cartoon of a anthropomorphic globe holding a thermometer.

How to Measure Global Average Temperature in Five Easy Steps

Diagram of how tornadoes form

How Tornadoes Form

Hurricane Alex

Hurricane

All of the houses are damaged and only two houses remain standing. There is sand and debris covering the ground around the houses.

Hurricane Damage

A hydroelectric dam as viewed from above

Hydroelectric Dam

Ice-covered powerlines

Ice Storm

A picture of a thermal inversion over Boulder, Colorado, appears as a brown layer in the sky.

Inversion over Boulder, Colorado

Ionosphere Diagram - Regions & Altitude

A line graph showing temperature change over time, both with the impact of humans and without.

Just Add Humans: Model Simulations of 20th Century Climate

Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud

Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds

Lenticular clouds

Lenticular Clouds

A bolt of lightning across a dark sky

Lightning

Mammatus Clouds

Mammatus Clouds

Map of Ocean Circulation

Map of Ocean Circulation

Marine Stratocumulus Clouds

Marine Stratocumulus Clouds

Mesosphere diagram

Mesosphere diagram

Methane molecule

Methane molecule

Eruption of Mount Pinatubo viewed from the ground several miles away

Mount Pinatubo Eruption, 1991

Neon light with the letters Ne, the symbol for neon

Neon Light

Nimbostratus clouds and a rainbow over a city

Nimbostratus clouds

A cloud floating in the middle of a museum room

Nimbus Munnekeholm by Berndnaut Smilde

Nitric oxide molecule

Nitric Oxide molecule

These two maps show typical nitrogen dioxide levels over China from January 1-20, 2020, and then show decreased nitrogen dioxide levels over the same area from February 10-25, 2020.

Nitrogen Dioxide During Coronavirus Shutdown (2020)

Nitrogen Dioxide molecule

Nitrogen Dioxide molecule

Nitrogen molecule

Nitrogen molecule

Noctilucent clouds glowing on the horizon just after sunset

Noctilucent Clouds

North Magnetic Pole Location from 1600 to 2001

North Magnetic Pole Location from 1600 to 2001

North Magnetic Pole Location from 1600 to 2001

North Magnetic Pole Location from 1831 to 2001

A nuclear power plant in India

Nuclear Power Plant

Occluded front

Occluded Front

Multiple smokestacks releasing pollutants into the air in the form of white smoke, burning natural gas, and black smoke.

Oil Refineries Create Air Pollution

Oxygen molecule

Oxygen molecule

Brown dots scattered across the surface of three green leaves of a potato plant.

Ozone damage to potato leaves

A view of the Earth showing the ozone hole as recorded in 2019.

Ozone Hole Over Antartica

Ozone molecule

Ozone molecule

Persistent Non-Spreading Contrails

Persistent Non-Spreading Contrails

Persistent Spreading Contrails

Persistent Spreading Contrails

Photosphere - Sunspots and Granulation

Photosphere - Sunspots and Granulation

This is an image of cassava growing on a hillside in Vietnam. A cassava farmer is working on the cassava stem fencing that installed as a forage barrier between rows of cassava crop.

Planting Cassava

Polar Stratospheric Clouds

Polar Stratospheric Clouds

Drawings of close up pollen particles from pine, hemlock, and sweet gum

Pollen Picture

Heavy traffic in Mexico City causes air pollution.

Pollution from Vehicles

Propane molecule - example hydrocarbon

Propane molecule - Hydrocarbon example

This is a photo from inside a public bus, looking towards the front of the bus with rows of seats on each side.

Public Transportation

Radiation Budget Diagram for Earth's Atmosphere

Radiation Budget Diagram for Earth's Atmosphere

This is an image of green stormwater management where water is directed from the road into a terraced garden area alongside the road.

Rain Gardens

A double rainbow

Rainbows

H-alpha View of the Sun

Red Light (H-alpha) View of the Sun - July 18, 2000

Diagram of the regions of the Sun

Regions of the Sun

This is a photo of of an apartment building with rows of window-unit air conditioners installed in the windows.

Remove HFCs from air conditioners

Map of coastal Bangladesh showing current sea level (left), one meter rise in sea level (center) affecting 15 million people, and 1.5 meter rise in sea level (right) affecting 18 million people.

Sea Level Change in Bangladesh

Ship tracks across the ocean appear as thin trails of white clouds, criss-crossing across the water.

Ship tracks south of Alaska

Short Lived Contrails

Short Lived Contrails

Sizes of Aerosols, Raindrop and Cloud Droplets

Sizes of Aerosols, Raindrop and Cloud Droplets

Smog over Denver, Colorado, appears as a hazy sky above the city.

Smog

Microscope image of a snowflake

Snowflake

A thick layer of snow on a fence

Snowstorm

Solar Active Regions: Sunspots on the left and UV image of the Sun on the right

Solar Active Regions - Sunspots and UV Image

Solar Chromosphere during eclipse

Solar Chromosphere Eclipse Photo

Sun's corona - during eclipse (left) and UV image (right)

Solar Corona - Eclipse and UV Images

Solar eclipse on July 11, 1991 as seen from Hawaii

Solar Eclipse 1991 from Hawaii

This is an image of large field solar panels arranged in rows, tilted slightly towards the Sun.

Solar Energy

Solar Filament in H-alpha Light

Solar Filament in H-alpha Light in July 2000

Ultraviolet image of a solar flare from November 2003

Solar Flare November 2003

Solar Prominences - Sept. 1999 & March 2003 - Ultraviolet SOHO images

Solar Prominences - Sept. 1999 & March 2003 - Ultraviolet SOHO images

Dropsonde (left) and Radiosonde on Balloon

Sonde and Dropsonde Photos

Weather map showing a stationary front

Stationary Front

Storm front over Lake Superior.

Storm Front Over Lake Superior

Stratocumulus clouds at sunset

Stratocumulus clouds

Stratosphere Diagram

Stratosphere Diagram

Stratus clouds

Stratus clouds

Sun at Solar minimum

Sun at Solar Min - Red Light

Red sunspots on orange sun

Sun with Sunspots - March 29, 2001

Sun with Sunspots - Solar Max 2001 and Solar Min 2005

Sun with Sunspots - Solar Max 2001 and Solar Min 2005

Sun's Atmosphere - Corona and Chromosphere

Sun's Atmosphere - Corona and Chromosphere

Sun's Corona at Solar Min & Solar Max

Visible Light Spectrum of the Sun

Sun's Spectrum

Two views of sunspots

Sunspots

A large, dark storm cloud rises high up into the sky above a dark horizon.

Supercell Thunderstorm

Illustration of a thermal inversion, when cool air and pollutants from the surface are inhibited from rising by a layer of warm air.

Temperature Inversion

A map of the world showing model data for the future climate

The Future of Precipitation

A map of the US showing annual mean temperature by state

The New Normal: Changes in Annual Normal Temperatures

The Rock Cycle

The Rock Cycle

Ultraviolet light image of the sun

The Sun in Ultraviolet Light

Diagram of the water cycle

The Water Cycle

Map of unusual cold temperatures in Europe during the summer of 1816 showing summer temperatures up to three degrees C lower than usual.

The Year Without a Summer

Storm clouds fill the sky above the grassy plains.

Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm Formation

Thunderstorm Formation

A crowd watches as a tornado form in Wyoming in June of 2009

Tornado in Wyoming (U.S.) on June 5, 2009

Tree Rings

Tree Rings

Troposphere Diagram

Troposphere Diagram

Ultraviolet (UV) Black light bulb

Ultraviolet (UV) Blacklight

Ultraviolet Sun with Coronal Loops

Ultraviolet Sun with Coronal Loops - April 2012

Satellite image of New York City showing temperature.

Urban Heat in New York City

Earth's Magnetosphere

Visualization of Earth's Magnetosphere

Map showing a warm front moving in from the bottom left

Warm Front

Wavelength of Blue and Red Light

Wavelength of Blue and Red Light

Scientist launching weather balloon (left) and weather balloon collecting data (right)

Weather Balloon Photos

Effects of an Increase on Mean Temperature

What Does it Mean to Change the Mean?

A graphic showing ways you can help to reduce air pollution: wind turbines as an example of renewable energy, driving low pollution vehicles, taking the bus or riding your bike, refuel at gas stations in the evening, compost yard waste instead of burning it, mow grass in the evening, avoid using the fireplace or wood stoves when air quality is poor, use low VOC cleaners and paints, and in general use less energy.

What You Can Do to Improve Air Quality

Map of United States farms by county, showing the majority of farms in the center of the U.S.

Where are the farms in the United States?

Diagram showing what happens to carbon dioxide. Forty percent stays in the atmosphere, thirty percent is taken up through land cover, and thirty percent ends up in the ocean.

Where does carbon dioxide go?

changes in soil moisture and dry days in the US

Which areas are projected to get drier?

Trees laid flat from a microburst

Wind

Wind turbines in a landscape

Wind Turbines