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Aqua and Earth of Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and Australia
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Fires in Southeast Australia
A crippling heat wave and st
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2/6/09
| Description |
A crippling heat wave and strong winds in southeastern Australia contributed to an outbreak of forest and grassland fires in Victoria in late January 2009. By January 30, about 5,500 hectares had burned and at least 10 homes had been destroyed, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The homes were located in a small community near the town of Boolara. Nearly surrounded by wildfire, the town had also run out of water and lost power, said ABC News. This image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite was captured on January 30. A large plume of smoke spreads southward from a fire (outlined in red) that appears to be burning in a small area of forest west of Churchill (a larger town near Boolara) in Victoria's Gippsland region. The forest is dark green in contrast to the surrounding grass or cropland. The fire, says ABC News, started as two blazes in plantation forests in the Strzelecki Ranges. The large version of the scene shows a wider area that includes several other fires. Image credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Text credit: Rebecca Lindsey, NASA's Earth Observatory |
| Date |
2/6/09 |
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Bushfires in Southeast Austr
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Bushfires in southeastern Au
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2/9/09
| Description |
Bushfires in southeastern Australia turned deadly over the first weekend of February 2009. Out-of-control fires raced into small communities and towns in Victoria, and more than 100 people had died as of February 9, according to news reports. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC News) reported that many of those who died had remained to protect their homes. Among the most devastated communities were those in the Kinglake area and Marysville. As of February 9, firefighters were expressing concern about the increased activity of the fire around the town of Dederang, southwest of Lake Hume. This image shows the Barry Mountains of central Victoria on February 9, 2009. The image, captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite,is shown in false color, using visible, near-infrared and shortwave infrared light. Places where the sensor detected active fire are outlined in red. Burned areas are brick red, and places of intense heat -- often a sign of open flame in this kind of image -- are glowing pink. Smoke turns a transparent blue, which makes it easier to see the ground. Fire is a regular occurrence in the forests and grasslands of southeastern Australia, even in the absence of people. In the hot, dry summer months, vegetation dries out, lightning triggers many natural wildfires. However, in the past decade, the area has experienced several severe droughts, and in late January and early February, parts of South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales were also paralyzed by an exceptional heatwave. Conditions were primed for devastating fires, some of which appear to have been started by lighting and others, according to news reports, by arson. The event was the worst fire disaster in Australia's history. > Labeled image > Photo-like image Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, MODIS Rapid Response Team Text credit: Rebecca Lindsey, NASA's Earth Observatory |
| Date |
2/9/09 |
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Chlorophyll Concentration Sh
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| Title |
Chlorophyll Concentration Shows Oceanographic Patterns in Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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Chlorophyll Concentration Sh
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| Title |
Chlorophyll Concentration Shows Oceanographic Patterns in Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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Chlorophyll Concentration Sh
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| Title |
Chlorophyll Concentration Shows Oceanographic Patterns in Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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Chlorophyll Concentration Sh
…
| Title |
Chlorophyll Concentration Shows Oceanographic Patterns in Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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Chlorophyll Concentration Sh
…
| Title |
Chlorophyll Concentration Shows Oceanographic Patterns in Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
|
Chlorophyll Concentration Sh
…
| Title |
Chlorophyll Concentration Shows Oceanographic Patterns in Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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IKONOS and Aqua MODIS Imager
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| Title |
IKONOS and Aqua MODIS Imagery of Southern Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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IKONOS and Aqua MODIS Imager
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| Title |
IKONOS and Aqua MODIS Imagery of Southern Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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IKONOS and Aqua MODIS Imager
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| Title |
IKONOS and Aqua MODIS Imagery of Southern Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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MODIS Sea Surface Temperatur
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| Title |
MODIS Sea Surface Temperature Data Shows Increased Temperatures in Southern Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. Currently, the most severe coral bleaching occurs over inshore reefs where the Sea Surface Temperatures are showing increased temperatures. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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MODIS Sea Surface Temperatur
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| Title |
MODIS Sea Surface Temperature Data Shows Increased Temperatures in Southern Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. Currently, the most severe coral bleaching occurs over inshore reefs where the Sea Surface Temperatures are showing increased temperatures. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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MODIS Sea Surface Temperatur
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| Title |
MODIS Sea Surface Temperature Data Shows Increased Temperatures in Southern Great Barrier Reef |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. Currently, the most severe coral bleaching occurs over inshore reefs where the Sea Surface Temperatures are showing increased temperatures. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
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MODIS Sea Surface Temperatur
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| Title |
MODIS Sea Surface Temperature Time Series Data Shows Increased Temperatures in Great Barrier Reef - Wide View |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. Currently, the most severe coral bleaching occurs over inshore reefs where the Sea Surface Temperatures are showing increased temperatures. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
|
MODIS Sea Surface Temperatur
…
| Title |
MODIS Sea Surface Temperature Time Series Data Shows Increased Temperatures in Great Barrier Reef - Wide View |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. Currently, the most severe coral bleaching occurs over inshore reefs where the Sea Surface Temperatures are showing increased temperatures. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
|
MODIS Sea Surface Temperatur
…
| Title |
MODIS Sea Surface Temperature Time Series Data Shows Increased Temperatures in Great Barrier Reef - Wide View |
| Abstract |
Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. Currently, the most severe coral bleaching occurs over inshore reefs where the Sea Surface Temperatures are showing increased temperatures. |
| Completed |
2005-02-28 |
|
Fires and Smoke in Southeast
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| Title |
Fires and Smoke in Southeast Australia, January 23, 2003 |
| Abstract |
Aqua's rapid fire gallery features today's image of the fires in Southeast Australia. A state of emergency is still in effect in Canberra, Australia with very hot, dry and windy conditions predicted over the next couple of days. A fire continues to burn in the McIntyre Hut area north-west of Canberra. Another fire, the Gudgenby fire, continues to burn to Canberra's south. There is a total fire ban in force in the region for the next six days. |
| Completed |
2002-01-23 |
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Fires and Smoke in Southeast
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| Title |
Fires and Smoke in Southeast Australia, January 23, 2003 |
| Abstract |
Aqua's rapid fire gallery features today's image of the fires in Southeast Australia. A state of emergency is still in effect in Canberra, Australia with very hot, dry and windy conditions predicted over the next couple of days. A fire continues to burn in the McIntyre Hut area north-west of Canberra. Another fire, the Gudgenby fire, continues to burn to Canberra's south. There is a total fire ban in force in the region for the next six days. |
| Completed |
2002-01-23 |
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Fires and Smoke in Southeast
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| Title |
Fires and Smoke in Southeast Australia, January 23, 2003 |
| Abstract |
Aqua's rapid fire gallery features today's image of the fires in Southeast Australia. A state of emergency is still in effect in Canberra, Australia with very hot, dry and windy conditions predicted over the next couple of days. A fire continues to burn in the McIntyre Hut area north-west of Canberra. Another fire, the Gudgenby fire, continues to burn to Canberra's south. There is a total fire ban in force in the region for the next six days. |
| Completed |
2002-01-23 |
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Fires and Smoke in Southeast
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| Title |
Fires and Smoke in Southeast Australia, January 23, 2003 |
| Abstract |
Aqua's rapid fire gallery features today's image of the fires in Southeast Australia. A state of emergency is still in effect in Canberra, Australia with very hot, dry and windy conditions predicted over the next couple of days. A fire continues to burn in the McIntyre Hut area north-west of Canberra. Another fire, the Gudgenby fire, continues to burn to Canberra's south. There is a total fire ban in force in the region for the next six days. |
| Completed |
2002-01-23 |
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Algal Bloom off Tasmania
| Title |
Algal Bloom off Tasmania |
| Description |
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] and Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellites helped scientists identify this large algal bloom off the eastern coast of Tasmania. Large blooms have not been detected in the Tasman Sea in the past, and scientists from CSIRO Marine Research, the largest marine research organization in Australia, believe this one resulted from the natural upwelling of nutrients along the island's coast. The bloom is made up of coccolithophores, and is not believed to be harmful to the coastal ecosystem. MODIS imagery, such as the image above, revealed just how large this bloom is. The bloom forms bright blue-green clouds in the water that stretch from Flinders Island in the north down the entire east coast of Tasmania. The color is caused by light reflecting off the chalky outer scales of millions of microscopic coccoliths. The effect is a cloud of bright blue or green water in satellite imagery. In addition to helping scientists identify algal blooms, the MODIS images "provide a valuable interpretation for researchers wanting to understand any impact this species may have in the coastal or offshore environments," said Dr Susan Blackburn, a CSIRO researcher, in a press release [ http://www.marine.csiro.au/media/04releases/27oct04.html ]. The above MODIS image was acquired on October 20, 2004, by NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC. |
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Floods in Western Australia
| Title |
Floods in Western Australia |
| Description |
As cyclones go, Cyclone Emma [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php 3?img_id=13385 ] was weak, forming just before coming ashore with winds gusting to less than 90 kilometers per hour (56 miles per hour). The storm did, however, drape itself over the whole of Western Australia on March 1, 2006, bringing a deluge of rain. In the midst of its wet season, the region was already soggy when Emma came ashore, and the storm's heavy rains triggered widespread flooding. Water spilled out of river basins and filled seasonal lakes across the state on March 2, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite took the top image. In this image, the rivers and streams in the Murchison and Gascoyne River Basins have expanded into satiny ribbons of dark blue, with pale blue streaks formed by muddy channels. These rivers are in central Western Australia, east of Shark Bay and well inland from where the storm first struck, but similar floods are apparent throughout the state in the large image. In the ten days that passed between when the top and the bottom images were taken, plants have clearly flourished with the late summer rains. The brushes of green on the arid tan and pink landscape expanded, particularly around the rivers, which almost appear to be glowing in a halo of green by March 2. Popcorn clouds drifting over the flood region are pale blue in this false-color satellite image. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the MODIS Rapid Response team and the Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC. |
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Cyclone Ingrid
| Title |
Cyclone Ingrid |
| Description |
Cyclone Ingrid continues to build steam as it skims the coast of Australia's Northern Territory. The storm formed on March 6, 2005, in the Coral Sea, east of Australia. On March 9 and 10, it crossed the Cape York Peninsula, all but disintegrating over land. But when Ingrid reached the Gulf of Carpentaria, it re-formed into a Category 4 cyclone. The storm is now in the Timor Sea, and is expected to maintain its current intensity until it comes ashore over Kimberley, Australia. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the storm had winds of 213 kilometers per hour (132 mph) with gusts to 260 kph (160 mph) about the time this image was acquired on March 14, 2005. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured this true-color image of the storm. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Cyclone Jacob
| Title |
Cyclone Jacob |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Jacob was in the eastern Indian Ocean off the shore of Western Australia on March 10, 2007. This storm had been moving towards the Pilbara coast of northwestern Australia for several days, coming in from the northeast after forming south of Java several days earlier. This photo-like image of Jacob was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] on the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite on March 10, 2007, at 2:10 p.m. local time (06:10 UTC). The storm was a moderate-strength tropical cyclone with an irregular shape and no obvious eyewall (ring of towering clouds) at its center. According to the University of Hawaii's Tropical Storm Information Center, [ http://www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/ ] Cyclone Jacob has sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (90 miles per hour) around the time this image was acquired. Jacob was forecast to come ashore near Port Hedland, not far from where Cyclone George [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=14163 ] made landfall days earlier. Jacob was not expected to be nearly as powerful, but it will hinder efforts to recover from George. The high-resolution image provided above is at MODIS' full spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at additional resolutions. [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2007069-0310/Jacob.A2007069.0610 ] You can also download a 250-meter-resolution Cyclone Jacob KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Mar2007/Jacob.A2007069.0610.250m.kmz ] for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center. |
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Dust Storm in the Simpson De
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| Title |
Dust Storm in the Simpson Desert, Australia |
| Description |
High winds menaced Australia's residents in late September 2006, damaging buildings along the east coast and damaging crops and homes in South Australia. In the midst of this high-wind activity, a dust storm struck the Simpson Desert. Crossing the borders of three states (Northern Territory, Queensland, and South Australia), the Simpson Desert [ http://www.parks.sa.gov.au/simpson_cp/index.htm ] covers 170,000 square kilometers (about 65,000 square miles) and receives only slightly more rain than the Sahara Desert. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite took this picture on September 24, 2006. The MODIS sensor on the Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured the storm a few hours [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2006267-0924/Australia.A2006267.0135.1km.jpg ] earlier. In this image, the dust appears as a buff-colored plume that contrasts with the characteristic deep red soil of Australia's outback. You can also download a 250 m resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Sep2006/Australia2.A2006267.0420.250m.kmz ] (1.2 MB) for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC |
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Dust Storm over India and Pa
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| Title |
Dust Storm over India and Pakistan |
| Description |
Dust blew over the border between Pakistan and India on June 10, 2007. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite captured this image the same day. This picture shows the dust plume, appearing as a tan blur, obscuring the landscape below. The underlying land surface is a sand desert, and it provides ample material for dust storms in the region. According to ABC Online [ http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1948183.htm ] in Australia, both Pakistan and India suffered through a severe heat wave at the time of this dust storm. The same winds blowing hot air from the east might have also played a role in kicking up this dust. South of the dust plume is the Rann of Kutch, [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=11750 ] a marshy region along the India-Pakistan border that alternates between wet and dry conditions. The whiteness of the area in this image indicates a salt pan that emerges in the dry phase. You can download a 250-meter-resolution dust storm KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Jun2007/India.A2007161.0820.250m.kmz ] for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center. |
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East Australian Current
| Title |
East Australian Current |
| Description |
The East Australian Current sweeps warm water down the east coast of Australia. Like the Gulf Stream, the East Australia Current is pushed to the western edge of the ocean by the rotation of the Earth. The current carries nutrient-poor water from the Coral Sea into the cool waters of the Tasman Sea, spinning off into eddies as it does. The temperature difference between the current and the waters of the Tasman Sea make the current stand out clearly in this sea surface temperature image, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite on August 17, 2005. The image shows the warm water of the current in warm peach in contrast to the cooler pinks and purples of the surrounding ocean. Patches of white show where clouds veiled the ocean's surface. The East Australia Current is the largest ocean current close to Australia, moving as much as 30 million cubic meters of water per second in a broad ribbon that covers as much as 100 kilometers in width and 500 meters in depth. The current is strongest in the early months of the year—the Southern Hemisphere's summer— and weakens during the winter, the middle of the year. During the winter, the current hooks to the east off the coast of New South Wales. This image shows the southern edge of the current as it is making its eastward turn. For more information about the East Australia Current, see the CSIRO Marine Research web site, The East Australian Current [ http://www.marine.csiro.au/LeafletsFolder/37eac/ ]. NASA image courtesy Norman Kuring, MODIS Ocean Color Team [ http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] |
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Plume from Gamkonora
| Title |
Plume from Gamkonora |
| Description |
On July 7, 2007, the Gamkonora Volcano on Halmahera, Indonesia, began releasing plumes of ash, according to a report from ABC News, Australia. Over the next few days, the volcano continued its activity, including ejecting flaming rocks. The activity forced the evacuation of some 8,600 residents. At 14:50 East Indonesian Time on July 9, the volcano erupted, according to ReliefWeb. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] flying on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured this image of Gamkonora releasing a volcanic plume on July 10, 2007. Clouds obscure much of the view, but the plume's beige color distinguishes it from the surrounding clouds.Gamkonora [ http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0608-04= ] is a stratovolcano composed of alternating layers of hardened lava, solidified ash, and volcanic rocks left by previous eruptions. Rising to a height of 1,635 meters (5,364 feet), it is the highest peak on the island of Halmahera. Its largest recorded eruption occurred in 1673, accompanied by tsunamis that overwhelmed nearby villages. You can download a 250-meter-resolution KMZ file of Gamkonora [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Jul2007/gamkonora_amo_2007191.kmz ] suitable for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/ ] NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team. |
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Fires in Northern Australia
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Fires in Northern Australia |
| Description |
Several large fires and many scattered smaller ones were burning in Northern Territory, Australia, on October 11, 2004. This image of the fires (actively burning areas marked in red) shows the area imaged by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite. Large-scale fires (dark brown terrain shows what has burned) are not uncommon for the tropical savannas and woodlands of northern Australia for this time of year, at the transition from dry to wet season. Sometimes the fires occur naturally through lightning strikes, and sometimes they are intentional, land management burns. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires in Northern Australia
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Fires in Northern Australia |
| Description |
Along the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria (top center), numerous large bushfires were burning in the tropical savannas and grasslands of northern Australia on October 22, 2004. October is a time of transitional climate in the region. The dry season is drawing to a close, and the rainy season is beginning fitfully. Fires can be started by lightning or by land managers seeking to burn off old vegetation. In this image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite, actively burning fires have been marked with red dots. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires in Queensland, Austral
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Fires in Queensland, Australia |
| Description |
A wide break in the smattering of small popcorn clouds to the north and south gave the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite a clear view of numerous fires (red dots) burning in southern Queensland between the Simpson and Sturt Stony Deserts (left center edge and lower left corner, respectively) and the continent's east coast. This image was captured on October 6, 2004. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires in Queensland, Austral
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Fires in Queensland, Australia |
| Description |
The fire season in Queensland, Australia, officially got under way on October 1, but according to news reports from the area, fires have been springing up through late August and September, well in advance of the official date. This image of eastern Australia shows central and southern Queensland in the top and center of the image and northern New South Wales in the lower part. Captured on October 3, 2004, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite, the image shows numerous active fires in Queensland. Fires (marked in red) run along the coast in the mountains that make up the Great Dividing Range, and another concentration of fires is located in the forested mountain region west of the Simpson Desert (left center edge) and north of the Sturt Stony Desert. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC. |
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Fires in Queensland, Austral
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Fires in Queensland, Australia |
| Description |
Grass and bushfires continued to rage in southern Queensland on October 12, 2004. This image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite shows fires (marked in red) burning in numerous locations in the southern and eastern portions of the territory. The fire danger is extreme across southern Queensland and much of New South Wales (to its south). Fires are burning in Buckland Tableland-Carnarvon Mountain Range area, located in the upper left of the scene, as well as the Auburn Range Mountains nearer the coast. Fires are also burning west and north of Brisbane, which is located at the lower right of the scene, on the mainland west of the two small islands and Moreton Bay. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires in Queensland, Austral
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| Title |
Fires in Queensland, Australia |
| Description |
In eastern Australia, in the Queensland Territory, dozens of fires were burning on November 14, 2004, when the Aqua satellite passed overhead and allowed the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to capture this image. Areas where MODIS detected active fires are marked in red. Halfway down the coastline (right center) is Fraser Island, which terminates in Sandy Cape. A similar, but smaller coastline appendage occurs near bottom right, offshore of the city of Brisbane, which has a gray-tan appearance compared to the surrounding light green vegetation. Several smoky fires are burning northwest of the city. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires in South Australia
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Fires in South Australia |
| Description |
On May 7, 2004, morning and afternoon overpasses of NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites over South Australia revealed very different fire activity over the course of the day. In the morning, few fires were burning around Spencer Gulf, but by afternoon numerous fire detections were picked up by Aqua MODIS. This diurnal pattern of burning is a common occurrence, and having two MODIS sensors on different satellites allows scientists and land managers to have a more complete picture of regional fire activity than a single sensor would provide. Image by Earth Observatory staff, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response System at NASA-GSFC |
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Fires in South Australia
| Title |
Fires in South Australia |
| Description |
On May 7, 2004, morning and afternoon overpasses of NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites over South Australia revealed very different fire activity over the course of the day. In the morning, few fires were burning around Spencer Gulf, but by afternoon numerous fire detections were picked up by Aqua MODIS. This diurnal pattern of burning is a common occurrence, and having two MODIS sensors on different satellites allows scientists and land managers to have a more complete picture of regional fire activity than a single sensor would provide. Image by Earth Observatory staff, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response System at NASA-GSFC |
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Fires in Tasmania
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Fires in Tasmania |
| Description |
On April 26, 2006, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite passed over the island of Tasmania, south of Australia, and captured this image, which showed numerous fires (marked in red) burning. Several of the fires are accompanied by long smoke plumes, which stretch generally westward. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team. |
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Fires in Tasmania
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Fires in Tasmania |
| Description |
On March 21, 2007, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite captured this image of northwestern Tasmania (southeast of Australia) showing a cluster of fires (marked in red). According to reports from the Tasmania Fire Service, fires in the area were triggered by lightning in February and continued to burn over the next month. The area is a natural recreation area, near Cradle Mountain, and various trails were closed off and on as a safety precaution. You can download 250-meter-resolution KMZ file ot Tasmania [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Mar2007/tasmania_amo_2007080.kmz ] for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team. |
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Fires in Victoria, Australia
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Fires in Victoria, Australia |
| Description |
Bushfires were burning out of control in several locations in southern Australia in mid-January 2006. Firefighters faced blazes across southern Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria, which is pictured in this image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite. The image was captured on January 22. Actively burning fires detected by MODIS are outlined in red, and most of the fires are accompanied by long plumes of smoke blowing southeast. The city of Melbourne sit roughly in the center of the scene, wrapped around the northern coast of keyhole-shaped Port Phillip Bay. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires in Victoria, Australia
| Title |
Fires in Victoria, Australia |
| Description |
Between Lake Eildon and the Dartmouth Reservoir in Victoria, Australia, dozens of active fires churned out thick clouds of smoke in early December. In remote, rugged terrain in the Great Dividing Range Mountains, firefighters battled the blazes in hot, windy conditions. This image of the area was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite on December 10, 2006. Places where MODIS detected actively burning fire are marked with red outlines. The smoke pours southeast over the Bass Strait. Puffy towers of clouds are embedded in the smoke, these clouds may be the result of strong updrafts and aerosols (particles in the air that can act as "seeds" for cloud droplets) produced by the fires themselves, or they may be part of the larger-scale weather pattern over the area. The next day, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/fas/?SEAustralia3/2006345 ] a swath of clouds over the region may have provided some relief for firefighters. The large image provided above has a spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides twice-daily [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/fas/?SEAustralia3/ ] images of the region in additional resolutions. A 250-meter-resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Dec2006/Australia.A2006344.0345.250m.kmz ] is available for use with Google Earth. NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Fires in Victoria, Australia
| Title |
Fires in Victoria, Australia |
| Description |
Clouds had been hiding Victoria from the view of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites in previous weeks, but when the skies cleared on January 10, 2007, it was obvious that fires that had been burning in the area since early December 2006 were still raging. Places where Terra MODIS detected actively burning fires are outlined in red. Rivers of smoke pour from the burning vegetation. Although vegetation in this dry part of the world doesn't appear as vibrantly green as forests in wetter parts of the world, there is nevertheless a clear difference between forests that have burned and those that have not burned (or were lightly burned). The unburned areas appear dark green, while the burned areas appear brown. A huge swath of the Great Dividing Range Mountains between Lake Eildon and the town of Omeo burned in late 2006 and early 2007. The fires may continue for several months. The high-resolution image provided above has a spatial resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides twice-daily images [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/fas/?SEAustralia3/2007010/FAS_SEAustralia3.2007010.terra ] of the area in a variety of resolutions and formats, including an infrared-enhanced version that makes the burn scar more obvious. A 250-meter-resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Jan2007/Australia.A2007010.0025.250m.kmz ] of the Victorian fires is available for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center. |
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Fires in Western Australia
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Fires in Western Australia |
| Description |
By Tuesday evening (local time), January 24, 2006, news reports from southwestern Western Australia indicated that damp, cool weather had lessened—but not eliminated—the fire risk posed by a large blaze that had been threatening the towns of Yarloop, Waroona, and Hamel. This image shows the fires in that region on January 22, 2006. The image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite. Areas were MODIS detected active fire are outlined in red. A thick smoke plume drifts from the larger fire in the scene. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires on Cape York Peninsula
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| Title |
Fires on Cape York Peninsula and New Guinea |
| Description |
In early October, fires (marked in red) were burning across the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland, Australia. This Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Aqua satellite on October 6, 2004, shows several active fires associated with large, dark brown burn scars. In Australia, even before the arrival of Europeans, the grasslands and savannas of northern Australia were being managed by Aboriginal people through controlled use of fire. According to the Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Savannas Management, land managers in Cape York and other parts of northern Australia are re-instituting the Aboriginal practice of ?storm burns,? [ http://savanna.ntu.edu.au/information/cy/cy_fr.html ] very hot fires set late in the dry season (just before the return of the rains) when fuel levels are high. These intense burns appear to be necessary to prevent the invasion of woody shrubs and trees and to maintain native grasses. MODIS cannot tell the difference between a prescribed fire and a natural one, but images such as this give a clear picture of the amount of burning across wide areas of the continent. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires on Cape York Peninsula
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| Title |
Fires on Cape York Peninsula and New Guinea |
| Description |
A large fire on the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland, Australia, continued to spread on October 8, 2004. The area burned by the fire appears deep brown, and the actively burning portions of the fire that were detected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA?s Aqua satellite have been marked in red. Having burned almost all the way to the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria (left), the eastern edge appears to have become more active on this day (compared to images from previous days). Other fires are scattered in locations across the peninsula, and numerous fires were detected on New Guinea, at top center of the image. The bright turquoise line of the corals of the Great Barrier Reef follows the west coast of the peninsula. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Fires on Cape York Peninsula
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| Title |
Fires on Cape York Peninsula and New Guinea |
| Description |
In early October, fires (marked in red) were burning across northern Australia (bottom) and New Guinea (top). This Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Aqua satellite on October 4, 2004, shows several large, intense fires across the grasslands and savannas of the Cape York Peninsula (right) and Northern Territory (left). The burned areas stand out in deep brown against the dun-colored landscape. In Australia, even before the arrival of Europeans, the grasslands and savannas of northern Australia were being managed by Aboriginal people through controlled use of fire. According to the Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Savannas Management, land managers in Cape York and other parts of northern Australia are re-instituting the Aboriginal practice of ?storm burns,? [ http://savanna.ntu.edu.au/information/cy/cy_fr.html ] very hot fires set late in the dry season (just before the return of the rains) when fuel levels are high. These intense burns appear to be necessary to prevent the invasion of woody shrubs and trees and to maintain native grasses. MODIS cannot tell the difference between a prescribed fire and a natural one, but images such as this give a clear picture of the amount of burning across wide areas of the continent. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC. |
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Tropical Cyclone Clare
| Title |
Tropical Cyclone Clare |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Clare is a moderately strong storm system in the Indian Ocean off the Australian coast. When the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite observed the cyclone at 06:05 UTC (2:05 p.m. local time) on January 9, 2006, it was a well-developed system with peak sustained winds of around 100 kilometers per hour (60 miles per hour). The cyclone (the local term for a hurricane or typhoon) was about 200 kilometers offshore from Port Hedland in Western Australia, the nearest major city. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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Tropical Cyclone Emma
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Tropical Cyclone Emma |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Emma formed as a low-intensity storm system and built to cyclone strength only briefly. But Emma's brief cyclone status belied its size and rainfall. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) instrument on the Aqua observed the storm system as it was losing strength, and hence its tropical cyclone status, on February 28, 2006, at 5:55 UTC (1:55 p.m. local time). At this time, the cyclone had peak winds of roughly 55 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour). As the image shows, the storm system covered an enormous area, extending over almost the entire extent of Western Australia. With it came heavy rain and substantial flooding to the Pilbara Region, the northwestern corner of Western Australia, where the storm system came ashore. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC. |
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Tropical Cyclone George
| Title |
Tropical Cyclone George |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone George came ashore on the remote Pilbara coast of Western Australia on the evening of March 8, 2007, as a very powerful Category 4 storm, [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml ] with wind speeds as high as 275 kilometers per hour (170 miles per hour). According to the online version of the Sydney Morning Herald, the storm was responsible for at least two deaths [ http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/cyclone-george-kills-two-jacob-advances/2007/03/09/1173166991751.html ] and many serious injuries as of March 10. This photo-like image of George was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] on the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite on March 9, 2007, at 1:25 p.m. local time (05:25 UTC). The storm was still a strong tropical cyclone with a circular shape and distinct eye at its center, despite the fact that the storm had been traveling over land for nearly a day when the image was captured. According to the University of Hawaii's Tropical Storm Information Center, [ http://www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/ ] Cyclone George had sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour) near the time this image was acquired. George was the worst storm to hit the area in 30 years, and the government declared the region a disaster area. Rescue and recovery efforts were expected to be complicated by the arrival of Cyclone Jacob. As a Category 2 storm, Jacob was smaller and weaker, and it was not expected to wreak the same kind of destruction as George. You can download a 250-meter-resolution Cyclone George KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Mar2007/george_amo_2007068.kmz ] for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.gov/ ] team. |
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Tropical Cyclone Glenda
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Tropical Cyclone Glenda |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Glenda formed off the northwestern coast of Australia on March 27, 2006. The storm quickly built into a powerful and well-defined cyclone during the next day. Powerful winds have whipped up surf along the coastline of Western Australia's Pilbara region, and the storm has brought heavy rains to the islands off the Kimberly coast. As of March 30, 2006, the storm had lost some power and was ranked as a powerful Category 4 storm, after having peaked the previous day. This photo-like image was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite on March 30, 2006, at 2:10 p.m. local time (06:10 UTC). It shows Cyclone Glenda as a well-developed storm, sitting just off the coastline about 300 kilometers (185 miles) from Port Hedland. Clouds from the storm covered most of the northwest coastline of Western Australia. Sustained, peak winds in the storm system were roughly 195 kilometers per hour (120 miles per hour) at this time. The storm's spiraling clouds appear as a nearly solid white disk, and the faint bluish eye is poised just off the coastline. Observations as of 8:00 p.m. Australian Western Standard Time on March 30 were that the storm was crossing the coast near Onslow. The town was bearing the brunt of the worst winds near the cyclone's center. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology predicted that wind speeds could gust as high as 235 kilometers per hour (140 miles per hour) as the storm continued to come ashore. Residents in coastal communities who were not yet evacuated were directed to stay put, as the severe winds would make attempting to move extremely dangerous. Australian news services are comparing Glenda to the famous and destructive cyclones Larry and Tracy. Larry struck the Queensland coast just two weeks before Glenda, while Tracy remains imprinted on Australia's memory as the storm that flattened Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974. Glenda is large and more powerful than either of these storms, but striking in a much more sparsely populated area. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
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