The annual global Earth Day observation on April 22 is an opportunity to take some time to reflect on our planet and the interconnected cycles that make our home habitable. For members of NASA's Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Program and the agency's Earth Science Division, Earth Day is also a chance to show off one of the largest Earth science data collections on the planet—a collection that has grown to 119 petabytes (PB) as of the end of March 2024.
In keeping with NASA open science policies, these data are yours to use, openly and without restriction. This Earth Day, the agency is providing numerous ways you can connect with these resources.
If you happen to be in Washington, D.C., stop by the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building (East Lobby/300 E Street, SW) to participate in special Earth Day events on April 18 and 19. During this free event, members of NASA's Earth science programs, projects, and data teams will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., EDT, to guide you through hands-on activities, introduce you to the innovative Earth Information Center, demonstrate how you can use NASA Worldview to interactively explore more than 1,000 data imagery layers, and show off amazing visualizations of Earth data from space on the cutting edge NASA Hyperwall.
Even if you're not in D.C., NASA has resources you can use to learn more about Earth. A special Earth Day Toolkit created by NASA's Earth Science Division has links to agency resources, including videos, activities, and even Earth Day posters you can download. The Toolkit also enables you to connect with the agency's many citizen science projects, where you can help collect data in your community. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California also has a special Earth Day website with links to educational activities and public events.
Of course, your gateway to NASA's Earth science data collection every day of the year is the Earthdata Website. Whether you are new to using Earth science data or a power user, you'll find the data, tools, and resources for all your explorations in this one location. Plus, our unique Data Pathfinders walk you through data collections around specific topics, such as Agriculture and Water Management, Disasters, Air Quality, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Sea Level Change. And if you have questions about using these data, the Earthdata Forum can connect you with NASA data experts who have the answers.
NASA Earth science data are yours to use and can help make every day Earth Day.
