Earth scientists conduct basic research employing end-to-end expertise in observations from multiple vantage points along with theoretical modeling to characterize and understand the atmosphere, land, cryosphere and oceans on our home planet, with an overarching goal of improving predictions of future changes.
Our scientists work on a variety of current satellite and aircraft missions and instruments, including:
Aqua AIRS - Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
Aura MLS - Microwave Limb Sounder
CloudSat - vertical structure of clouds
ECOSTRESS - ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station
EMIT - Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (2022 launch)
GRACE-FO - Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
JASON-3 and JASON CS - Ocean Surface Topography Mission (2020 launch)
MAIA - Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (2022 launch)
NDACC - Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change