If Earth science had a sound, what would it be, and what kind of artists would play it? Perhaps a jazz quartet, or a techno DJ? What would they want on their concert poster? To find out, we invite you to imagine the music while you explore our Home Planet Playlist posters.
Colorful designs and an abundance of musical word play bring to life several Earth science projects that make the world a better place. The result? A melding of art and science that looks just as cool as that vintage band poster hanging in your office. These posters are ready to go on tour and spread the word on the impact NASA science has on Earth. Be sure to download, print, and share!
GEOGLAM
Program Area: Agriculture
Music Genre: Country
Agriculture and country music go together like biscuits and gravy. That made the genre a natural choice to feature the Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM) Initiative. GEOGLAM created a tool that helps both farmers and decision makers monitor crop health so they can spot concerns before they become a crisis. Called the Agrometeorological (AGMET) Earth Observation Indicators platform, it creates easy-to-read maps and graphs using satellite data.
Read about GEOGLAM
Ozone pollution monitoring in the great lakes region
Program Area: Health & Air Quality
Music Genre: Symphonic metal
Few things are more metal than using satellites to track ozone pollution and protect vulnerable populations from air quality-related respiratory problems. NASA scientists created custom models to do exactly that in the Great Lakes region (or Lacus Magna, which is wordplay on the Latin translation). With data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites, the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO) have a better understanding of how variations in wind patterns and air pressure impact air quality.
Read about the Great Lakes project
Sustainable cashmere project
Program Area: Ecological Conservation
Music Genre: Jazz
Which is smoother: silky soft cashmere wool or a jazz solo? We couldn’t decide either. The scientists involved in the Sustainable Cashmere Project created models that predicted rangeland conditions based on precipitation, climate change over time, and other factors. This information helps cashmere goat herders living in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert make informed decisions that will keep their herds healthy and protect their livelihoods.
Read about the Sustainable Cashmere Project
CHIRPS Forecasting
Program Area: Agriculture
Music Genre: Indie Rock
Indie rock artists are trailblazers with big ambitions, a perfect poster inspiration for the Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS). The CHIRPS Forecasting tool has its head in the clouds — literally — to provide a global rainfall data set. By referencing evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and more, CHIRPS can help predict how weather and climate-related risks might impact food production in developing countries.
Read about CHIRPS
circuitscape & omniscape
Program Area: Ecological Conservation
Music Genre: EDM (Electronic Dance Music)
Animals know how to keep a party going as they flow from habitat to habitat, and NASA scientists are using some electrifying methods to track their movements. Circuitscape and Omniscape both take inspiration from the electrical engineering concept of circuit theory to map the pathways different species take to move between habitats. This helps conservationists do things like identify species who may be isolated within a single territory — which can cause inbreeding and genetic issues —and prioritize their conservation efforts.
Read about Circuitscape
Read about Omniscape
Poster credits
Words by: Jessica Sheaves; Editor: Kaitlin Carpenter
Designs by: Chamisa Kellogg, Michael Brophy, Peyton Doyle
Producer: Aimee Levesque
