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Explore the dynamic nature of our planet. Every two weeks, Earth and Climate Events reports the latest volcano and earthquake activity and weather happenings around the globe. Data visualizations show how the planet's physical realms change over time and how humans make an impact. Feature stories explore current research on Earth processes, introduce leading Earth scientists at work today, and highlight innovative technologies that probe the planet.

The 2010 eruption of Merapi in Indonesia is the volcano's largest in 100 years. Ash emissions reached an altitude of 40,000 ft, and 370,000 people were evacuated from a danger zone 40 km in diameter. The death toll has surpassed 300.

An Asian monsoon swept through Pakistan in early August 2010 and left over 1,600 people dead and over 13 million in need of aid.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked parts of Sumatra, Indonesia, destroying hundreds of buildings and creating a 3-m high tsunami.

Global Ozone 2004 - 2008 Ozone gas protects Earth from ultraviolet light. Satellite data reveals how global ozone concentrations change over time. Although a seasonal ozone hole still occurs, ozone levels are slowly recovering due to the 1987 international ban on CFCs.

Sea Ice Over the past few decades, the amount of sea ice in the Arctic has been dwindling. Scientists are using satellite images to measure the distribution of Arctic sea ice to better understand its links to Earth's climate.

Sea Surface Temperature El Niño events influence devastating droughts and floods around the world. Satellite imagery shows how the study of ocean temperatures can help scientists detect and predict this periodic climate pattern.

Zircons: Time Capsules from the Early Earth Travel to a remote island off Greenland's coast where geologists are studying tiny crystals in rocks called zircons—some of the oldest materials on Earth.

Grace: Tracking Water from Space NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) is a bold mission to track the impact of climate change on the planet's vast tracts of freshwater, saltwater, and ice.

PETM: Unearthing Ancient Climate Change The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), as this ancient global warming event is known, lasted upwards of 170,000 years and had dramatic impacts on living things both on land and in oceans. What does it mean for today?




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