Japan's Sakura-jima volcano typically is known for one or two small explosions every few days, but on Aug. 18, 2013, the volcano surprised everyone by breaking its established pattern.
African Dust Concerns Caribbean Scientists
Microscopic dust particles from African sandstorms blowing across the Atlantic to the Caribbean limit airplane pilots' visibility to just a few miles and affect the ability of asthmatics to breathe.
Surveillance Drone Aids California Firefighters
In late August, firefighters battling a giant wildfire burning in the Sierra Nevada in and around Yosemite National Park added a California National Guard Predator drone to their arsenal.
Satellites Help Assess Snow Purity
NASA and UCLA Researcher Tom Painter are interested in the purity of snow, so Painter studies how much water is stored in snowpack and how that snow looks to satellites.
DigitalGlobe Wants Higher Orbit, Lower Resolution
The Colorado-based Earth observation powerhouse is raising the orbit of its GeoEye-1 satellite to increase imaging capacity while petitioning the government to ease resolution restrictions.
Satellites Help Boost South Africa Air Quality
Economic development often means an increase of harmful gases into the atmosphere. The European Space Agency's GlobEmission project uses satellite data to monitor atmospheric pollution from emissions.
Drones Inspect Georgia Crops
During a recent 10-minute flight, a camera attached to an unmanned helicopter took multispectral images of peanut and cotton crops that farmers can use to detect disease or other problems.
NASA Images Russia's Largest-Scale Flood Ever
In August 2013, unseasonably heavy rains brought historic flooding to far eastern Russia and northeastern China. Russia's Amur and Khabarovsk regions were the hardest-hit areas.
Drone Facilitates Railway Mapping Project
DroneMetrex announced it successfully performed a high-precision railway mapping project in Australia with its TopoDrone 100 unmanned aircraft system.
Jordan Refugee Camp Swells
In just over a year, it has become Jordan's fourth largest city”except it's not a city. It's the world's second-largest refugee camp. NASA's Terra satellite chronicles its growth.
