Terrestrial ecosystems, land-based communities of creatures, plants, and their surrounding environment, are an expansive focus of NASA's Earth observations. Observing such ecosystems allows us to understand the function and health of our own planet while also seeding us with knowledge to analyze how other worlds work. Researchers studying terrestrial ecosystems delve into a variety of topics ...
Discover and Visualize Human Influenced Ecosystem Data NASA data help us understand Earth's changing systems in more detail than ever before, and visualizations bring these data to life, making Earth science concepts accessible, beautiful, and impactful.
The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) instrument is a full-waveform lidar installed on the International Space Station that produces detailed observations of the 3D structure of Earth’s surface. GEDI's three lasers precisely measure forest canopy height, canopy vertical structure, and surface elevation. By accurately measuring forests in 3D, GEDI data play an important role in ...
NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) uses lidar to study the height and structure of forests and other plant biomass in order to better monitor and understand the carbon cycle, habitats, and biodiversity amid changing climate and land use patterns.
Wetlands are a type of terrain where the land is permanently or seasonally saturated with water. Swamps and marshes are types of wetlands. Insects, waterfowl, fish, amphibians, and other animals often find a home in wetlands, creating a complex ecosystem that combines land-based and aquatic life.
NASA biosphere data are critical for understanding Earth's species, climate regulation and change, and its ecosystem processes.
The term "biodiversity" is used to describe the abundance and variety of life on Earth. Having a diverse assemblage of plants, animals, and other organisms in a wide range of habitats promotes ecosystem productivity. Thriving, diverse ecosystems help balance processes like nutrient storage and recycling, pollution filtration, and water resource maintenance. In addition, diverse ecosystems trap ...