Climate change effects on earth are already beginning to transform our lives and its impacts are far-reaching with impending catastrophic consequences. In this connection, some images recently released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) show how the world has changed over the years.

The images show incredible changes to our planet’s landscapes, from flooding rivers to vanishing lakes, shrinking sea ice to newly created islands. We can even see the dramatic effects of urban expansion and what light pollution looks like from space.

As NASA sums it this way: “Our planet is constantly changing, and we use the vantage point of space to increase our understanding of Earth, improve lives, and safeguard our future.”