"but it is difficult to estimate where the ground ends and the atmosphere begins. "
You said it all right there.
The atmosphere does not noticably thin between 1995 and 1998, or 95 and 96.
Look at the curvature of the Earth in the last 2 you posted. They're completely different. Look at the lighting - one is night, one is day.
Of course they're going to look different!
I'm out.