Watching Our Oceans

Karl and Seymour learn how carbon dioxide is formed in this sketch from The Lollygaggers, a global warming sketch comedy.

This animation illustrates the evolution of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (relative to the respective normal state) in the Pacific Ocean associated with the 2015-2016 El Niño.

OSTM/Jason-2 - All instruments plus data animation

In many communities in the U.S., sea level rise is already a factor in people’s lives in the form of high-tide flooding.

A look at how NASA is dealing with the threat of sea level rise to its coastal infrastructure.

SSH and SST - Global

For over 20 years NASA has been tracking the global surface topography of the ocean in order to understand the important role it plays in our daily lives. Climate change is causing our Ocean to war...

On the left is Sea Surface Height Anomalies (SSHA) relative to the sea level mean (1993-2018). On the right is Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL) with the sea level trend as the straight line. The data a...

El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific. The warmer water associated with El Niño displaces colder water in the upper layer of the ocean caus...

Jason-1 Spacecraft Animation

Oceans of Climate Change

A key ocean observation satellite has been named after Earth scientist Michael Freilich

The joint U.S.-European Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is the next in a line of Earth-observing satellites that will collect the most accurate data yet on sea level and how it changes over time. With ...

For NASA scientist Severine Fournier, studying our planet knows no borders.

Our World: How High is the Ocean?

Greenland and Antarctica are home to most of the world's glacial ice – including its only two ice sheets – making them areas of particular interest to scientists.

The ocean is responsible for Earth's mild climate and makes life on Earth possible for all creatures.

Sea Level Isn't Level - Why it matters

Sea level rise is an indicator that our planet is warming. When ice on land, such as mountain glaciers or the ice sheets of Greenland or Antarctica, melts, that water contributes to sea level rise.

Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Launch footage

OSTM/Jason-2 - Data/ground track animation

Our planet is changing. Our ocean is rising. And it affects us all. That’s why a new international satellite will continue the decades-long watch over our global ocean and help us better understand...

Earth’s rising seas are some of the most visible signs of our warming planet. Over the last 23 years, NASA satellite missions have observed a steady rise in global sea levels as polar ice sheets me...

For NASA engineer Shannon Statham, building spacecraft is all about being creative.

This video discusses the water cycle, which is the movement of water around the Earth, and its importance to life. Changes to the water cycle affect climate and vice versa.