While on the One-Year Mission, astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photo of the Earth as Winter Storm Jonas was occurring.

After documenting his year in space, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly will soon return home. His message for those of us on the ground: The damage we've caused is visible in Earth's atmosphere from space, and something needs to be done.

"When you look at the ... atmosphere on the limb of the Earth, I wouldn't say it looks unhealthy, but it definitely and just kind of like this thin film, so it looks like something that we definitely need to take care of," Kelly said in an interview with CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

"There are definitely parts of Asia, Central America that when you look at them from space, you're always looking through a haze of pollution," Kelly said. "As far as the atmosphere is concerned, and being able to see the surface, you know, I would say definitely those areas that I mentioned look kind of sick."

Aside from pollution, Kelly noted in his CNN interview that he has noticed weather systems in unexpected places.

Kelly has meticulously posted photos to his Twitter account, giving the world a unique perspective –in more than one way. His images show landscapes transformed by drought, urban expansion and pollution. His photos inspire not just awe, but also a deep reverence for the planet and the strong desire to take better care of it.

Kelly has been in space for more than 500 days and will return back to Earth on March 1 with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko. Kelly had been to space three other times, but this stint on the International Space Station has made him the record holder for total days in space and the longest mission in space for a single astronaut.

Kelly recently did a, providing some insight into his experience in space over the past year.

One user asked Kelly, "What ONE thing will you forever do differently after your safe return home?"

Kelly said in response: "I will appreciate nature more."

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