Skip to main content

Space agencies’ online dashboard shows lockdown effects on Earth

A new online dashboard shows in impressive detail the kind of changes taking place on Earth as a result of lockdowns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Earth Observing Dashboard, unveiled on Thursday, June 25, is the result of a joint effort by three of the world’s major space agencies, namely NASA, ESA (Europe), and JAXA (Japan).

Recommended Videos

The data for the online tool comes from 17 of the agencies’ satellites, with human activity affected to such an extent by coronavirus-related lockdowns that the effect can be seen from space.

For example, the regularly updated dashboard data shows how air quality and water clarity have both improved in recent months, in part due to a reduction in global transportation, which is also shown on the dashboard.

You can sort the data by country, or by indicator type, such as transportation activity, nightlight levels, population density, and air quality. More indicators will be added over time.

When you select an indicator, locations with available data show as points on the map. The points show in either green, blue, red, or gray, according to whether the information is better than, the same as, or worse than the average baseline, or still being processed and uploaded.

Check out the video below for a concise explanation of how to get the most from the dashboard.

Online dashboards have proved popular during the coronavirus pandemic, with many people turning to them for detailed information on the state of the virus and how it’s affecting their communities.

A dashboard created by Johns Hopkins University is updated regularly to show the number of confirmed and suspected coronavirus cases, as well as the number of deaths and those who have recovered, in countries around the world. Another one breaks down the data by U.S. county to offer incredibly detailed information for anyone seeking regular updates for specific locations.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
SpaceX is about to launch 4 humans to orbit. Here’s how to watch
The International Space Station.

UPDATE: NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space have stepped from its effort to launch the Ax-4 mission on Sunday, June 22. They said they need more time to evaluate International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the station's Zvezda service module. When a new target launch date is announced, we will update the article below]

This weekend will see the fourth crewed launch by private firm Axiom Space.

Read more
NASA astronaut’s first ISS time-lapse is a real stunner
A screenshot from a time-lapse by NASA astronaut Jonny Kim

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim has shared his first-ever time-lapse from aboard the International Space Station (ISS) -- and it’s a real stunner.

The dramatic 68-second clip shows a changing view of Earth as the space-based facility orbits our planet at an altitude of about 250 miles. 

Read more
Strawberry Moon tonight: How to watch the stunning lunar show
Image of the moon cast in a red-orange tint during a previous lunar eclipse in 2019.

Tonight offers a wonderful opportunity to witness a full Strawberry Moon. It’s a gorgeous phenomenon, with out nearest neighbor casting a warm, golden-pink hue across the sky as it rises.

The term "Strawberry Moon" originated from Algonquian-speaking tribes in the northeastern U.S., as this particular full moon took place when strawberries were ripening and ready to be harvested. The name has been passed down the generations and continues to be used by many people today.

Read more