National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

The GMAO Research Site

The Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) supports NASA's Earth Science mission. Activities in Earth System modeling and data assimilation aim to maximize the impact of satellite observations on analyses and predictions of the atmosphere, ocean, land and cryosphere.

Science Snapshots

Science Snapshot Archive »

GEOS S2Sv2 Indian Ocean Dipole Forecast and its Potential Global Impacts

The Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) is a climate phenomenon that occurs in the Indian Ocean. The positive phase of the IOD is associated with warmer sea surface temperatures (SST) in the western Indian Ocean and colder SST in the eastern Indian Ocean.

Hurricane Idalia at Landfall

Hurricane Idalia made landfall along the northern gulf coast of Florida on the 30th of August 2023. Radar reflectivity from observations (left) and as simulated by the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) atmospheric model visualizes the internal structure of Idalia.

Sea surface currents and salinity near the maritime continent

The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) is the only low-latitude gateway for export of large amounts of heat and freshwater from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. The ITF affects the atmosphere–ocean coupling with potential impacts on ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) and the Asian monsoon.

Ozone extremes over the U.S. tracked by NASA’s composition forecasting system

In May, the Midwest U.S. experienced high levels of surface ozone that exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard and posed a risk to millions of people and thousands of acres of crops. The region was already grappling with poor air quality caused by smoke drifting south from the massive fires in Alberta.