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On December 9, 2024, the Franklin Fire erupted in Malibu, California, marking another devastating wildfire event in a region highly susceptible to such disasters. Local authorities reported widespread destruction, with multiple structures lost and the forced evacuation of 6,300 residents. As the fire raged, its containment efforts faced significant challenges; two days after the outbreak, containment stood at a mere 7%. The event prompted school closures and mobilized nearly 2,000 firefighters, underscoring the scale of the emergency.

The European Space Agency’s Vega-C rocket is fully assembled and positioned on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, preparing for a highly anticipated liftoff scheduled for 4 December. This mission not only marks the return to flight for Vega-C but also carries the Sentinel-1C satellite, a vital component of the Copernicus Earth observation program.

NASA's Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) collected this hyperspectral image of the Amazon River in the northern Brazilian state of Pará on June 30, 2024. The tan and yellow colors represent vegetated land, while the blue and turquoise hues signify water. Clouds are white. This image is part of a new dataset providing new information on global ecosystem biodiversity.

As extreme weather events increase around the world due to climate change, the need for further research into our warming planet has increased as well. For NASA, climate research involves not only conducting studies of these events, but also empowering outside researchers to do the same. The artificial intelligence (AI) efforts spearheaded by the agency offer a powerful tool to accomplish these goals.