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Images

Earth as a System

Community Earth System Model
Air masses in and around North America
Air Masses
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
Climate system from IPCC AR4
Coal strip mine and truck carrying dirt
Coal Strip Mine
Earth viewed from space
Earth
Global Atmospheric Circulation
Global Atmospheric Circulation
Heat transfer diagram
Heat Transfer Diagram
The Volcanic Explosivity Index
How Big Was That Eruption? Check the Volcanic Explosivity Index!
Map of Ocean Circulation
Map of Ocean Circulation
Eruption of Mount Pinatubo viewed from the ground several miles away
Mount Pinatubo Eruption, 1991
North Magnetic Pole Location from 1600 to 2001
North Magnetic Pole Location from 1600 to 2001
North Magnetic Pole Location from 1831 to 2001
North Magnetic Pole Location from 1831 to 2001
Radiation Budget Diagram for Earth's Atmosphere
Radiation Budget Diagram for Earth's Atmosphere
The Rock Cycle
The Rock Cycle
Diagram of the water cycle
The Water Cycle
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?

Air Quality

Carvings on the exterior of an old limestone building are decaying due to acid rain.Carvings on the exterior of an old limestone building are decaying due to acid rain.
Acid Rain Damage
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
Carbon Dioxide molecule
Carbon Dioxide molecule
Carbon Monoxide molecule
Carbon Monoxide molecule
Chemical Composition of Earth's Atmosphere
Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere Diagram
Air pollution creates harmful yellow dust storms over the Korean Peninsula.
Dust storm
Diagram illustrating relative abundances of gases in Earth's atmosphere
Earth's Atmospheric Composition Diagram
Smokestacks from an oil refinery in Commerce City, Colorado, are shown pumping black smoke into the atmosphere.
Factory Smoke
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
Air pollution in Mexico City causes hazy skies that block sunlight from reaching the ground.
Haze over Mexico City
A picture of a thermal inversion over Boulder, Colorado, appears as a brown layer in the sky.
Inversion over Boulder, Colorado
Methane molecule
Methane molecule
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
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 patches scattered across the surface of three leaves of a potato plant are evidence of ozone damage.
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
Heavy traffic in Mexico City causes air pollution.
Pollution from Vehicles
Propane molecule - example hydrocarbon
Propane molecule - Hydrocarbon example
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
The top image shows normal conditions when warm air rises from the surface, carrying pollutants from industry and homes up into the atmosphere where the air temperature is cooler. The bottom image shows thermal inversion, or when cool air and pollutants from the surface are inhibited from rising by a layer of warm air.
Temperature Inversion
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

How Weather Works

Air masses in and around North America
Air Masses
Side view (A) and weather map representation (B) of a cold front
Cold Front
Dropsonde in Flight
Dropsonde in Flight
Foggy forest
Foggy Weather
Global Atmospheric Circulation
Global Atmospheric Circulation
Heat transfer diagram
Heat Transfer Diagram
Diagram of how air moves in high (left) and low (right) pressure systems
High and Low Pressure Systems
Diagram of how clouds form
How Clouds Form
Weather map representation of an occluded front
Occluded Front
Rainbow
Rainbows
Dropsonde beneath parachute
Sonde and Dropsonde Photos
Weather map representation of a stationary front
Stationary Front
Diagram of the water cycle
The Water Cycle
Side view (A) and weather map representation (B) of a warm front
Warm Front
Scientist launching weather balloon
Weather Balloon Photos

Clouds

Altocumulus clouds
Altocumulus clouds
Altostratus clouds
Altostratus clouds
Cirrocumulus clouds over a forest
Cirrocumulus clouds
Cirrostratus clouds
Cirrostratus clouds
Cirrus clouds over a winter landscape
Cirrus Clouds
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
Diagram of clouds forming due to weather fronts
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
Contrails
Contrails
Contrails
Contrails
Three Types of Contrails
Contrails: Three Types
Cumulonimbus cloud
Cumulonimbus clouds
Cumulus clouds
Cumulus clouds
Diagram of how clouds form
How Clouds Form
Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud
Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds
Lenticular clouds
Lenticular Clouds
Mammatus Clouds
Mammatus Clouds
Marine Stratocumulus Clouds
Marine Stratocumulus Clouds
Nimbostratus clouds with a rainbow
Nimbostratus clouds
A cloud floating in the middle of a museum room
Nimbus Munnekeholm by Berndnaut Smilde
Noctilucent clouds glowing on the horizon just after sunset
Noctilucent Clouds
Persistent Non-Spreading Contrails
Persistent Non-Spreading Contrails
Persistent Spreading Contrails
Persistent Spreading Contrails
Polar Stratospheric Clouds
Polar Stratospheric Clouds
Short Lived Contrails
Short Lived Contrails
Stratocumulus clouds at sunset
Stratocumulus clouds
Stratus clouds
Stratus clouds

Layers of the Atmosphere

Atmosphere of Jupiter in December 2000
Atmosphere of Jupiter in December 2000
Aurora viewed from space
Aurora from International Space Station on July 25, 2010
Layers of Earth's Atmosphere
Diagram of Atmosphere Layers
Dropsonde in Flight
Dropsonde in Flight
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 Magnetosphere
Earth's Magnetosphere
Regions of the Ionosphere diagram
Ionosphere Diagram - Regions & Altitude
Mesosphere diagram
Mesosphere diagram
Dropsonde beneath parachute
Sonde and Dropsonde Photos
Stratosphere Diagram
Stratosphere Diagram
Troposphere Diagram
Troposphere Diagram
Scientist launching weather balloon
Weather Balloon Photos

Sun and Space Weather

Aurora viewed from space
Aurora from International Space Station on July 25, 2010
Compare Sun Images - Visible Light and Ultraviolet
Compare Sun Images - Visible Light and Ultraviolet
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
Coronal Mass Ejection on January 4, 2002
Coronal Mass Ejection January 2002
Diagram of a cosmic ray air shower
Cosmic Ray Air Shower
Sketch of the Earth and Sun (not to scale)
Earth and Sun
Earth's Dipole Magnetic Field
Earth's Dipole Magnetic Field
Earth's Magnetosphere
Earth's Magnetosphere
Graph of Sunspot Counts from 1975 to 2016
Graph of Sunspot Counts
North Magnetic Pole Location from 1600 to 2001
North Magnetic Pole Location from 1600 to 2001
North Magnetic Pole Location from 1831 to 2001
North Magnetic Pole Location from 1831 to 2001
Photosphere - Sunspots and Granulation
Photosphere - Sunspots and Granulation
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
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 (top) and UV image (bottom)
Solar Corona - Eclipse and UV Images
Solar eclipse on July 11, 1991 as seen from Hawaii
Solar Eclipse 1991 from Hawaii
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
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
Sun's Corona at Solar Min & Solar Max
Visible Light Spectrum of the Sun
Sun's Spectrum
Two views of sunspots
Sunspots
Two views of sunspots
Sunspots
Ultraviolet image of a solar flare from November 2003
The Sun in Ultraviolet Light
Ultraviolet (UV) Black light bulb
Ultraviolet (UV) Blacklight
Ultraviolet Sun with Coronal Loops
Ultraviolet Sun with Coronal Loops - April 2012
Wavelength of Blue and Red Light
Wavelength of Blue and Red Light

Storms and Other Weather

Big and Small, A Snowflake Story
Process of a blizzard. In the first image (top), a house is clearly seen. In the middle image, a house is partially obscured by blowing snow. In the bottom image, the house is almost completely obscured by blowing snow.
Blowing snow during a blizzard reduces visibility.
Diagram of how hurricanes form
How Hurricanes Form
Diagram of how tornadoes form
How Tornadoes Form
Hurricane Alex viewed from space
Hurricane
Hurricane damage to houses
Hurricane Damage
Ice-covered powerlines
Ice Storm
Lightning
Lightning
Microscope image of a snowflake
Snowflake
Fence covered in deep snow
Snowstorm
Storm Front Over Lake Superior
Storm Front Over Lake Superior
Supercell Thunderstorm
Supercell Thunderstorm
Storm clouds fill the sky above the grassy plains.
Thunderstorm
Diagram of a thunderstorm forming
Thunderstorm Formation
A crowd watches as a tornado form in Wyoming in June of 2009
Tornado in Wyoming (U.S.) on June 5, 2009
Trees laid flat from a microburst
Wind

How Climate Works

Carbon cycle diagram
Carbon Cycle Diagram
Carbon Cycle Diagram
Carbon Cycle Diagram from the DOE
Climate system from IPCC AR4
Coal strip mine and truck carrying dirt
Coal Strip Mine
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
Diagram demonstrating how greenhouse gases trap heat
How Greenhouse Gases Trap Heat
How to Measure Global Average Temperature in Five Easy Steps
How to Measure Global Average Temperature in Five Easy Steps
How Models Simulate 20th Century Climate With (top) and Without (bottom) the Imp
Just Add Humans: How Models Simulate 20th Century Climate With (top) and Without (bottom) the Impacts of Humans
Drawings of close up pollen particles from pine, hemlock, and sweet gum
Pollen Picture
Radiation Budget Diagram for Earth's Atmosphere
Radiation Budget Diagram for Earth's Atmosphere
The Year Without a Summer
The Year Without a Summer
Tree Rings
Tree Rings
Effects of an Increase on Mean Temperature
What Does it Mean to Change the Mean?

Solving Climate Change

A concentrated solar power plant with mirrors surrounding a central tower
Concentrated Solar Power
This is an image of rows of legume crops in pots, outside, with equipment suspended above them.
Crop Improvement
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
A photo of a line of homes that have stilts to elevate them from the ground.
Elevating Homes
A geothermal power plant in Iceland
Geothermal Power
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
This is an image of a high speed train pulling into a train station.
High Speed Trains
A hydroelectric dam as viewed from above
Hydroelectric Dam
A nuclear power plant in India
Nuclear Power Plant
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
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
This is an image of large field solar panels arranged in rows, tilted slightly towards the Sun.
Solar Energy
Wind turbines in a landscape
Wind Turbines

Impacts of Climate Change

Cracks in Dry Mud
Cracks in Dry Mud
Farmland affected by draught
Drought in the central United States
How Thawing Permafrost Soils Release Greenhouse Gases
How Thawing Permafrost Soils Release Greenhouse Gases
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
Future precipitation
The Future of Precipitation
The New Normal: Changes in Annual Normal Temperatures
Satellite image of New York City showing temperature (top) and vegetation (bottom). Areas with more vegetation have a lower temperature.
Urban Heat in New York City
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?

National Center for Atmospheric Research University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

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