Several ESSIC scientists contributed to a recent NASA study that found vegetation was essential for limiting city warming effects. The study’s conclusion was supported through a land model that included Landsat and MODIS data to assess the impact of urbanization on US surface climate. ESSIC researchers Ping Zhang (2nd author), Georgy Mostovoy, and Marc Imhoff contributed to the study.
![Satellite seasonal temperature difference maps indicate how the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and its organisms may respond to the temperature changes. Here, the maps show warmer than average water temperatures from January through March 2020, cooler than average from April through June, near average July through September, and slightly warmer than average October through December. The long-term baseline is from the years 2008-2019.]](https://essic.umd.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/rv-chesapeake2-150x150.jpg)
Tracking Water Temperature with Satellites
September 18, 2025
