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Jan 24 • 7 tweets • 5 min read
A mapping effort led by @NASAGoddard's chief scientist shows how the explosive volcanic eruption at #Tonga's #HungaTongaHungaHaapai obliterated the island. go.nasa.gov/3rE8jo4
“This is a preliminary estimate, but we think the amount of energy released by the eruption was equivalent to somewhere between 4 to 18 megatons of TNT,” said Jim Garvin. 🌋
For comparison, scientists estimate Mount St. Helens exploded in 1980 with 24 megatons and Krakatoa burst in 1883 with 200 megatons of energy. go.nasa.gov/3tRKk7t
The eruption propelled volcanic material unusually high into the atmosphere—well into the stratosphere. The CALIPSO satellite measured volcanic material higher than it ever has before. go.nasa.gov/3KBV7bT 🛰️
Astronauts looking down from the International @Space_Station saw signs of the ash as well.
Before the blast, various types of shrubs, grasses, insects, and birds made a home on the island. go.nasa.gov/3nPwyOY
Scientists have been watching the island for years, partly because it offers a window into how surface waters may have once affected volcanic landforms on #Mars. “We actually see fields of similar-looking features on Mars in several regions,” said Garvin. go.nasa.gov/3Ix96Oj

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Aug 30, 2021
Preliminary reports suggest #HurricaneIda is the fifth-strongest storm ever to make landfall in the continental U.S. earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148767/…
“For me, the most compelling aspect of Ida was its rapid intensification up to landfall,” said Scott Braun, a scientist who specializes in hurricanes at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
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Mar 25, 2021
We now have the first continuous near real-time observations of how humans are increasing Earth’s greenhouse effect, developed by @NASA & university partners. The research directly demonstrates how human activities are responsible for changing the climate.
go.nasa.gov/3ck7PNf
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Feb 17, 2021
The #CountdownToMars is on! We can hardly believe that the @NASAPersevere rover is just ONE day from touching down in Jezero Crater. 🎉

No one has set foot in the crater, but we have some ideas of what to expect thanks to Lake Salda in #Turkey. 🚀

earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/earthmat…
Take a close look at photos of these four key features found near Lake Salda. The Perseverance team hopes to find similar features on Mars. 👀
1. Microbialites

Lake Salda has hydromagnesite sediments eroded from large mounds called “microbialites”—rocks formed with the help of microbes. It would be huge news, if Jezero Crater has microbialites as well.
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Jan 29, 2021
Earth is a big, weird place in space. There’s so much happening on this planet all at once that it’s easy to forget some minor details. We asked our friends here at @NASA — and we want to share with you — the facts about Earth that live rent free in our heads. Photo of the limb of Earth taken from a window in space
Earth has a solid inner core that is almost as hot as the surface of the Sun. Earth’s core gets as hot as 9,800 degrees Fahrenheit, while the surface of the Sun is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Right, @NASASun?
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Jan 27, 2021
2020 was tied with 2016 for the warmest year on record, part of a long-term warming trend driven by human activity. @NASA works to monitor how our climate is changing — melting ice, warming temperatures, longer fire seasons, and more.
go.nasa.gov/2XDI6rh
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Jan 14, 2021
Globally, 2020 was the hottest year on record, effectively tying 2016, the previous record. Overall, Earth’s average temperature has risen more than 2 degrees F since the 1880s. The effects of rising temperatures are felt around the world.
go.nasa.gov/3iakW5c
2020 was a year of extremes, with record-breaking hurricane and fire seasons. Higher surface temperatures and more heat in the climate system can fuel different extreme events, directly and indirectly, like increasing tropical storm intensity.
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go.nasa.gov/396zPBt
go.nasa.gov/33oxoqO Labeled satellite image of smoke from fires in CaliforniaLabeled satellite image of smoke from fires in Australia
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