What they do
NASA's Climate Change portal (climate.nasa.gov) provides the most authoritative, publicly accessible climate data available. Vital Signs dashboards track CO2 levels, global temperature, sea level, Arctic ice extent, and ice sheet mass in near real-time. Satellite missions (GRACE, ICESat, OCO-2, PACE) provide continuous Earth observation data. The portal includes climate time machines, interactive visualizations, and educational resources.
Why they matter
When someone asks 'is the climate actually changing?' NASA's Vital Signs page provides the answer with satellite-verified data updated daily. The authority of NASA's name and the quality of their data visualization make this the most credible single source for communicating climate reality to skeptics and newcomers. Their satellite missions produce the raw data that climate science depends on: ice mass measurements, sea level tracking, and atmospheric CO2 monitoring.
How to support
Use climate.nasa.gov as a reference for climate data and visualizations. Educators can access free lesson plans and interactive tools. Advocate for continued funding of NASA's Earth observation satellite missions.
Key project to explore
The Vital Signs dashboard tracks five key planetary indicators (CO2, temperature, sea level, Arctic ice, ice sheets) with satellite-verified data updated near daily, providing the most authoritative public climate data portal.