|
|
Browse All
:
Aqua and Earth of Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and United States of America
|
Printer Friendly |
National Map Showing Habitat
| Title |
National Map Showing Habitat Suitability for Tamarisk Invasion |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER and commercial remote sensing data, to create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species likely habitats. Recent work on the Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) project has shown the importance of remotely-sensed time-series data in geostatistical models for mapping the distribution of Tamarisk and other invasive plant species. This video shows the habitat suitability for a Tamarisk invasion in the continental United States. Red indicates areas that are highly suitable and yellow indicates areas which are less suitable. Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada are the most highly suitable states. Utah and Arizona have the next greatest risk. California, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio, Wyoming, and Florida also have a significant risk. |
| Completed |
2005-10-18 |
|
National Map Showing Habitat
| Title |
National Map Showing Habitat Suitability for Tamarisk Invasion |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER and commercial remote sensing data, to create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species likely habitats. Recent work on the Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) project has shown the importance of remotely-sensed time-series data in geostatistical models for mapping the distribution of Tamarisk and other invasive plant species. This video shows the habitat suitability for a Tamarisk invasion in the continental United States. Red indicates areas that are highly suitable and yellow indicates areas which are less suitable. Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada are the most highly suitable states. Utah and Arizona have the next greatest risk. California, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio, Wyoming, and Florida also have a significant risk. |
| Completed |
2005-10-18 |
|
National Map Showing Habitat
| Title |
National Map Showing Habitat Suitability for Tamarisk Invasion |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER and commercial remote sensing data, to create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species likely habitats. Recent work on the Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) project has shown the importance of remotely-sensed time-series data in geostatistical models for mapping the distribution of Tamarisk and other invasive plant species. This video shows the habitat suitability for a Tamarisk invasion in the continental United States. Red indicates areas that are highly suitable and yellow indicates areas which are less suitable. Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada are the most highly suitable states. Utah and Arizona have the next greatest risk. California, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio, Wyoming, and Florida also have a significant risk. |
| Completed |
2005-10-18 |
|
National Map Showing Habitat
| Title |
National Map Showing Habitat Suitability for Tamarisk Invasion |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER and commercial remote sensing data, to create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species likely habitats. Recent work on the Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) project has shown the importance of remotely-sensed time-series data in geostatistical models for mapping the distribution of Tamarisk and other invasive plant species. This video shows the habitat suitability for a Tamarisk invasion in the continental United States. Red indicates areas that are highly suitable and yellow indicates areas which are less suitable. Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada are the most highly suitable states. Utah and Arizona have the next greatest risk. California, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio, Wyoming, and Florida also have a significant risk. |
| Completed |
2005-10-18 |
|
National Map Showing Habitat
| Title |
National Map Showing Habitat Suitability for Tamarisk Invasion |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER and commercial remote sensing data, to create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species likely habitats. Recent work on the Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) project has shown the importance of remotely-sensed time-series data in geostatistical models for mapping the distribution of Tamarisk and other invasive plant species. This video shows the habitat suitability for a Tamarisk invasion in the continental United States. Red indicates areas that are highly suitable and yellow indicates areas which are less suitable. Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada are the most highly suitable states. Utah and Arizona have the next greatest risk. California, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio, Wyoming, and Florida also have a significant risk. |
| Completed |
2005-10-18 |
|
Creating the Tamarisk Habita
| Title |
Creating the Tamarisk Habitat Suitability Map (for Science Presentations) |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER, and commercial remote sensing data, and create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species patterns and vulnerable habitats. The first step in this process is to collect relevant satellite data which can then be used to derive a Tamarisk Habitat Suitability Map. By combining daily Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI), daily Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and MODIS Landcover Classification data the likely Tamarisk habitat suitability map can be derived. |
| Completed |
2006-01-19 |
|
Creating the Tamarisk Habita
| Title |
Creating the Tamarisk Habitat Suitability Map (for Science Presentations) |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER, and commercial remote sensing data, and create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species patterns and vulnerable habitats. The first step in this process is to collect relevant satellite data which can then be used to derive a Tamarisk Habitat Suitability Map. By combining daily Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI), daily Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and MODIS Landcover Classification data the likely Tamarisk habitat suitability map can be derived. |
| Completed |
2006-01-19 |
|
Creating the Tamarisk Habita
| Title |
Creating the Tamarisk Habitat Suitability Map (for Science Presentations) |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER, and commercial remote sensing data, and create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species patterns and vulnerable habitats. The first step in this process is to collect relevant satellite data which can then be used to derive a Tamarisk Habitat Suitability Map. By combining daily Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI), daily Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and MODIS Landcover Classification data the likely Tamarisk habitat suitability map can be derived. |
| Completed |
2006-01-19 |
|
Creating the Tamarisk Habita
| Title |
Creating the Tamarisk Habitat Suitability Map (for Science Presentations) |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER, and commercial remote sensing data, and create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species patterns and vulnerable habitats. The first step in this process is to collect relevant satellite data which can then be used to derive a Tamarisk Habitat Suitability Map. By combining daily Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI), daily Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and MODIS Landcover Classification data the likely Tamarisk habitat suitability map can be derived. |
| Completed |
2006-01-19 |
|
Global Sea Surface Temperatu
| Title |
Global Sea Surface Temperature from June, 2002 to September, 2003 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
The temperature of the surface of the world's oceans provides a clear indication of the state of the Earth's climate and weather. The AMSR-E instrument on the Aqua satellite measures the temperature of the top 1 millimeter of the ocean every day, even through the clouds. In this visualization sequence covering the period from June, 2002, to September, 2003, the most obvious effects are the north-south movement of warm regions across the equator due to the seasonal movement of the sun and the seasonal advance and retreat of the sea ice near the North and South poles. It is also possible to see the Gulf Stream, the warm river of water that parallels the east coast of the United States before heading towards northern Europe, in this data. Around January 1, 2003, a cooler than normal region of the ocean appears just to the west of Peru as part of a La Nina and flows westward, driven by the trade winds. The waves that appear on the edges of this cooler area are called tropical instability waves and can also be seen in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean about the same time. |
| Completed |
2004-02-12 |
|
Global Sea Surface Temperatu
| Title |
Global Sea Surface Temperature from June, 2002 to September, 2003 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
The temperature of the surface of the world's oceans provides a clear indication of the state of the Earth's climate and weather. The AMSR-E instrument on the Aqua satellite measures the temperature of the top 1 millimeter of the ocean every day, even through the clouds. In this visualization sequence covering the period from June, 2002, to September, 2003, the most obvious effects are the north-south movement of warm regions across the equator due to the seasonal movement of the sun and the seasonal advance and retreat of the sea ice near the North and South poles. It is also possible to see the Gulf Stream, the warm river of water that parallels the east coast of the United States before heading towards northern Europe, in this data. Around January 1, 2003, a cooler than normal region of the ocean appears just to the west of Peru as part of a La Nina and flows westward, driven by the trade winds. The waves that appear on the edges of this cooler area are called tropical instability waves and can also be seen in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean about the same time. |
| Completed |
2004-02-12 |
|
Progression of Hurricane Cha
| Title |
Progression of Hurricane Charley, 2004 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
Hurricane Charley was the first of four hurricanes to hit the United States in 2004. |
| Completed |
2005-05-09 |
|
Progression of Hurricane Cha
| Title |
Progression of Hurricane Charley, 2004 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
Hurricane Charley was the first of four hurricanes to hit the United States in 2004. |
| Completed |
2005-05-09 |
|
Progression of Hurricane Cha
| Title |
Progression of Hurricane Charley, 2004 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
Hurricane Charley was the first of four hurricanes to hit the United States in 2004. |
| Completed |
2005-05-09 |
|
Progression of Hurricane Cha
| Title |
Progression of Hurricane Charley, 2004 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
Hurricane Charley was the first of four hurricanes to hit the United States in 2004. |
| Completed |
2005-05-09 |
|
Sea Surface Temperature, 200
| Title |
Sea Surface Temperature, 2005 (WMS) |
| Abstract |
The temperature of the surface of the world's oceans provides a clear indication of the state of the Earth's climate and weather. In this visualization sequence covering the period from January to June, 2005, the most obvious effects are the north-south movement of warm regions across the equator due to the seasonal movement of the sun and the seasonal advance and retreat of the sea ice near the North and South poles. It is also possible to see the Gulf Stream, the warm river of water that parallels the east coast of the United States before heading towards northern Europe, in this data. |
| Completed |
2005-07-11 |
|
Deriving the Tamarisk Suitab
| Title |
Deriving the Tamarisk Suitability Map: The Complete Story |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER and commercial remote sensing data. It can also be used to create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species patterns and vulnerable habitats. Tamarisk (Salt Ceder) is an invasive plant that typically grows near water and crowds out native species. Tamarisk reflective properties differ from those of its neighboring vegetation throughout the annual life cycle. These different reflective properties can be seen by the naked eye (as in the accompanying seasonal photographs), and can also be seen by satellite sensors. Current Tamarisk infestations and suitable habitats for future growth can be derived from various datasets, including EVI, NDVI, and land cover classifications. |
| Completed |
2006-01-19 |
|
Deriving the Tamarisk Suitab
| Title |
Deriving the Tamarisk Suitability Map: The Complete Story |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER and commercial remote sensing data. It can also be used to create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species patterns and vulnerable habitats. Tamarisk (Salt Ceder) is an invasive plant that typically grows near water and crowds out native species. Tamarisk reflective properties differ from those of its neighboring vegetation throughout the annual life cycle. These different reflective properties can be seen by the naked eye (as in the accompanying seasonal photographs), and can also be seen by satellite sensors. Current Tamarisk infestations and suitable habitats for future growth can be derived from various datasets, including EVI, NDVI, and land cover classifications. |
| Completed |
2006-01-19 |
|
Deriving the Tamarisk Suitab
| Title |
Deriving the Tamarisk Suitability Map: The Complete Story |
| Abstract |
The spread of invasive species is one of the most daunting environmental, economic, and human-health problems facing the United States and the World today. It is one of several grand challenge environmental problems being addressed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through a national application partnership with the US Geological Survey. NASA and USGS are working together to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. The system provides a framework for using USGS's early detection and monitoring protocols and predictive models to process MODIS, ETM+, ASTER and commercial remote sensing data. It can also be used to create on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species patterns and vulnerable habitats. Tamarisk (Salt Ceder) is an invasive plant that typically grows near water and crowds out native species. Tamarisk reflective properties differ from those of its neighboring vegetation throughout the annual life cycle. These different reflective properties can be seen by the naked eye (as in the accompanying seasonal photographs), and can also be seen by satellite sensors. Current Tamarisk infestations and suitable habitats for future growth can be derived from various datasets, including EVI, NDVI, and land cover classifications. |
| Completed |
2006-01-19 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Current Sea Surface Temperat
| Title |
Current Sea Surface Temperatures Rising in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract |
Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico rise due to natural summer warming. These warm surface temperatures are a contributing factor to favorable conditions that can lead to the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Eastern Shore of the United States. In general, hurricanes tend to form over warm ocean water whose temperature is 82 degrees Fahreheit (approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius) or higher. These areas are depicted in yellow, orange, and red. This data was taken by the AMSR-E instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. This animation updates every 24 hours. |
| Completed |
2006-05-24 |
|
Amazon River in the Atlantic
| Title |
Amazon River in the Atlantic Ocean |
| Description |
Tiny streams trickle down the east side of the glacier-clad peaks of the Andes, converging in a series of small rivers. As the rivers flow together, they wind across 6,516 kilometers (4,049 miles) of dense forest to form the world's largest river, the Amazon. Approximately 219,000 cubic meters (7,740,000 cubic feet) of water—roughly the equivalent of 88 Olympic-size swimming pools—flow from the river into the Atlantic Ocean every second. As this rapid rush of water sweeps through the Amazon Rainforest, it picks up leaves, seeds, fungi, animals, and various other bits of organic matter, as well as soil and minerals and dumps it all into the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. The huge influx of nutrients has an enormous impact on life in the Atlantic Ocean. Nutrients from the plume feed microscopic, surface-dwelling, ocean plants (phytoplankton [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Phytoplankton/ ]), which in turn feed a diverse population of fish. The impact of the Amazon plume is illustrated by this pair of images, made from data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite on September 30, 2006. The top image shows concentrations of chlorophyll (the energy-producing pigment that give plants their green color) in the ocean surface waters. Areas where chlorophyll concentrations are highest are yellow and correspond to the plume of water pouring from the mouth of the Amazon. Areas that are black show where chlorophyll concentrations could not be calculated because of clouds or sunglint, the glare off the ocean water that gives the upper left corner of the photo-like image (below) a washed-out appearance. Chlorophyll concentrations are likely high in the plume for two reasons. First, nutrients in the plume fertilize ocean plants, allowing them to grow more quickly near the plume. Second, the water within the plume has such a high volume and is moving so fast that it has not dispersed into the Atlantic, and plant matter from land is likely still concentrated within the plume. In fact, the Amazon plume remains concentrated enough that it can be seen meandering several kilometers across the Atlantic in the natural-color image. The plume is a band of dark water that first sweeps north on the North Brazil Current, a coastal ocean current similar to the Gulf Stream off the southeastern United States, and then snakes east in ever-fading loops on the North Equatorial Counter Current. NASA images created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC [ http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] and the Ocean Color Science Team. [ http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] |
|
Amazon River in the Atlantic
| Title |
Amazon River in the Atlantic Ocean |
| Description |
Tiny streams trickle down the east side of the glacier-clad peaks of the Andes, converging in a series of small rivers. As the rivers flow together, they wind across 6,516 kilometers (4,049 miles) of dense forest to form the world's largest river, the Amazon. Approximately 219,000 cubic meters (7,740,000 cubic feet) of water—roughly the equivalent of 88 Olympic-size swimming pools—flow from the river into the Atlantic Ocean every second. As this rapid rush of water sweeps through the Amazon Rainforest, it picks up leaves, seeds, fungi, animals, and various other bits of organic matter, as well as soil and minerals and dumps it all into the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. The huge influx of nutrients has an enormous impact on life in the Atlantic Ocean. Nutrients from the plume feed microscopic, surface-dwelling, ocean plants (phytoplankton [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Phytoplankton/ ]), which in turn feed a diverse population of fish. The impact of the Amazon plume is illustrated by this pair of images, made from data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite on September 30, 2006. The top image shows concentrations of chlorophyll (the energy-producing pigment that give plants their green color) in the ocean surface waters. Areas where chlorophyll concentrations are highest are yellow and correspond to the plume of water pouring from the mouth of the Amazon. Areas that are black show where chlorophyll concentrations could not be calculated because of clouds or sunglint, the glare off the ocean water that gives the upper left corner of the photo-like image (below) a washed-out appearance. Chlorophyll concentrations are likely high in the plume for two reasons. First, nutrients in the plume fertilize ocean plants, allowing them to grow more quickly near the plume. Second, the water within the plume has such a high volume and is moving so fast that it has not dispersed into the Atlantic, and plant matter from land is likely still concentrated within the plume. In fact, the Amazon plume remains concentrated enough that it can be seen meandering several kilometers across the Atlantic in the natural-color image. The plume is a band of dark water that first sweeps north on the North Brazil Current, a coastal ocean current similar to the Gulf Stream off the southeastern United States, and then snakes east in ever-fading loops on the North Equatorial Counter Current. NASA images created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC [ http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] and the Ocean Color Science Team. [ http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] |
|
Ash Plume from Karymsky
| Title |
Ash Plume from Karymsky |
| Description |
The Karymsky Volcano on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula showed considerable activity between March 10 and 17, 2006. The volcano emitted ash several times, and satellite imagery showed debris, most likely ash, draped along the sides of the mountain. When the skies were clear over the volcano, satellites also observed a thermal anomaly at the summit. In late March 2006, the United States Geological Survey placed Karymsky at code orange, the second-highest level of concern, meaning that the volcano was not erupting or posing a major hazard, but was clearly active and merited careful monitoring. When the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] on the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite observed the volcano on March 19, 2006, the thermal sensors did not detect the hotspot that had been observed earlier, but the satellite did detect a plume of light ash blowing eastward over the Bering Sea. Shown here, the plume appears pale gray-beige over the snowy land surface, and pale gray over the ocean water. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
|
Floods in the Midwestern Uni
| Title |
Floods in the Midwestern United States |
| Description |
The rivers of northwestern Missouri were still swollen in the wake of intense spring storms when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured the top image on May 10, 2007. The image is made from a combination of infrared and visible light to make the floods more visible than they would be in a photo-like image. In this type of image, water is dark blue or black, clouds are light blue and white, plant-covered land is bright green, and bare earth is pink-tinted tan. Fires are outlined with red boxes. The Missouri River runs along the left edge of the image, then curves east along the bottom of the image. Though the most flooded regions were covered in clouds, a few breaks reveal that the Missouri was swollen far beyond its banks. Nestled in a bend in the river near the Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri border is the town of Big Lake. The image shows that the river's curve has turned into a broad lake. The town was completely submerged in the flood when levees along the river broke, reported the Associated Press. [ http://www.cnn.com/2007/WEATHER/05/11/missouri.flooding.ap/index.html ] Beyond Big Lake, many communities along the Grand and the Platte Rivers and their tributaries have also been flooded or threatened by floods. All of these rivers are clearly running high in the image. MODIS captured the lower image on April 29, 2007, not quite a week before the rains began. By providing a clear view of normal water levels, the image illustrates just how extensively the rivers were flooded on May 10. Photo-like versions of both the April 29 [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA3/2007119/USA3.2007119.aqua ] and May 10 [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA3/2007130/USA3.2007130.terra ] images are available from the MODIS Rapid Response System. NASA images courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC. |
|
Floods in the Midwestern Uni
| Title |
Floods in the Midwestern United States |
| Description |
The rivers of northwestern Missouri were still swollen in the wake of intense spring storms when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured the top image on May 10, 2007. The image is made from a combination of infrared and visible light to make the floods more visible than they would be in a photo-like image. In this type of image, water is dark blue or black, clouds are light blue and white, plant-covered land is bright green, and bare earth is pink-tinted tan. Fires are outlined with red boxes. The Missouri River runs along the left edge of the image, then curves east along the bottom of the image. Though the most flooded regions were covered in clouds, a few breaks reveal that the Missouri was swollen far beyond its banks. Nestled in a bend in the river near the Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri border is the town of Big Lake. The image shows that the river's curve has turned into a broad lake. The town was completely submerged in the flood when levees along the river broke, reported the Associated Press. [ http://www.cnn.com/2007/WEATHER/05/11/missouri.flooding.ap/index.html ] Beyond Big Lake, many communities along the Grand and the Platte Rivers and their tributaries have also been flooded or threatened by floods. All of these rivers are clearly running high in the image. MODIS captured the lower image on April 29, 2007, not quite a week before the rains began. By providing a clear view of normal water levels, the image illustrates just how extensively the rivers were flooded on May 10. Photo-like versions of both the April 29 [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA3/2007119/USA3.2007119.aqua ] and May 10 [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA3/2007130/USA3.2007130.terra ] images are available from the MODIS Rapid Response System. NASA images courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC. |
|
Floods in the Midwestern Uni
| Title |
Floods in the Midwestern United States |
| Description |
Early May 2007 brought torrential spring rains to the Midwestern United States, and by May 9, the National Weather Service [ http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hic/ ] had recorded flooding at 111 locations from North Dakota to Texas. At 15 locations, many of which were in Missouri, gauges measured major flooding. Thousands of people fled as the Missouri burst through levees in Missouri and Kansas, reported the Associated Press [ http://www.cnn.com/2007/WEATHER/05/09/missouri.flooding.ap/index.html ] on May 9. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured the top image of floods along the Missouri River and its tributaries on May 8. Though clouds still covered much of the Midwest on May 8, a few breaks revealed the flood-swollen Missouri, Grand, and Thompson Rivers. The large image shows additional flooding in Missouri, Iowa, and Kansas. Both this and the lower image, taken on April 29 before the rains began to fall, were made with a combination of visible and infrared light to highlight the presence of water on the ground. In this type of image, clouds are pale blue and white, water is dark blue or black, plant-covered land is green, and bare earth is tan pink. The tan and green speckled appearance of the landscape seen in the lower image is typical of agricultural land. Daily images [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA3 ] of the Midwest are available from the MODIS Rapid Response System. NASA images courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC. |
|
Floods in the Midwestern Uni
| Title |
Floods in the Midwestern United States |
| Description |
Early May 2007 brought torrential spring rains to the Midwestern United States, and by May 9, the National Weather Service [ http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hic/ ] had recorded flooding at 111 locations from North Dakota to Texas. At 15 locations, many of which were in Missouri, gauges measured major flooding. Thousands of people fled as the Missouri burst through levees in Missouri and Kansas, reported the Associated Press [ http://www.cnn.com/2007/WEATHER/05/09/missouri.flooding.ap/index.html ] on May 9. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured the top image of floods along the Missouri River and its tributaries on May 8. Though clouds still covered much of the Midwest on May 8, a few breaks revealed the flood-swollen Missouri, Grand, and Thompson Rivers. The large image shows additional flooding in Missouri, Iowa, and Kansas. Both this and the lower image, taken on April 29 before the rains began to fall, were made with a combination of visible and infrared light to highlight the presence of water on the ground. In this type of image, clouds are pale blue and white, water is dark blue or black, plant-covered land is green, and bare earth is tan pink. The tan and green speckled appearance of the landscape seen in the lower image is typical of agricultural land. Daily images [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA3 ] of the Midwest are available from the MODIS Rapid Response System. NASA images courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC. |
|
Central Africa Dust Storm
| Title |
Central Africa Dust Storm |
| Description |
An immense dust storm was blowing over central Africa on March 6, 2004, and was imaged by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in a series of consecutive overpasses of NASA?s Aqua satellite. It takes Aqua about 90 minutes to complete its pole-to-pole orbit and to return to an area just west of where it was on its last orbit. The first section of this image to be collected is the one on the far right of the image, the next image swaths were collected at roughly 90-minute intervals. The dust appears thickest and brightest to the right of center, in a region of Africa known as the Bodele Depression, once the location of a large lake. Now the region is one of the largest sources of wind-blown dust on Earth. On this day, the dust was spread across the Sahel and savanna regions of central Africa, just south of the vast Sahara Desert, nearly hiding the green belt of vegetation in the continent?s middle section. A thick plume of dust reaches thousands of kilometers north over the Atlantic in a graceful arc. Having trouble appreciating the scale of this event? Imagine this: if it were draped over the United States, it would easily stretch from coast to coast, and even hang off the edges over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for a couple hundred additional kilometers. In this image, the storm covers about one-fifth of the Earth?s circumference. Dust plays a major role in Earth?s climate and biological systems, participating in cloud and raindrop formation, absorbing and reflecting solar energy, and fertilizing ocean ecosystems with iron and other land-based minerals that ocean plants need to grow. The storm was still evident on March 7, and by March 8, the plume extended almost to South America, the dark green area in the lower left corner. The March 6 image provided above is available in additional resolutions. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center |
|
Hurricane Emily
| Title |
Hurricane Emily |
| Description |
Hurricane Emily is shown here in the Carribbean north of Venezuela on July 14, 2005. The image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite at 17:20 UTC (13:20 Eastern Daylight Time). At this time, it was a well developed and powerful hurricane with winds over 150 kilometers an hour (85 knots). It passed through the chain of islands known as the Windward Islands, causing one death in the city of St. George?s on Grenada. It is building up towards a Category 4 hurricane, the second strongest storm on the Saffir-Simpson intensity scale. Projections take it glancing off Jamaica, striking the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, and continuing across into the Gulf of Mexico to make landfall again somewhere near Brownsville, Texas on the border with Mexico and the United States. Predicting hurricane strength and intensity is challenging, and Emily might be either stronger or weaker than expected, and it may not stay on its predicted course. The hurricane has already become somewhat stronger than first anticipated. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
|
Hurricane Henriette
| Title |
Hurricane Henriette |
| Description |
Only the third hurricane of the relatively quiet 2007 eastern Pacific hurricane season, Hurricane Henriette was also the first hurricane of the season to make landfall. Henriette skimmed up the Mexican coastline as it developed between August 30 and September 4, 2007. The National Hurricane Center [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ ] predicted that the storm would come ashore over Baja California on September 4 as a strengthening Category 1 hurricane before traveling north through Mexico and into the United States. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured this image of Henriette at 2:10 p.m. local time (21:10 UTC) on September 3. At that time Henriette was still a tropical storm with sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (70 miles per hour). Though not as powerful as Hurricane Felix, [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=14483 ] which was pounding Central America from the Caribbean, Henriette had caused at least six deaths in Mexico before coming ashore. The outer bands of the storm inundated Acapulco with heavy rain that caused deadly flooding and landslides, reported the Associated Press on September 4. You can download a 250-meter-resolution KMZ file of Hurricane Henriette [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Sep2007/henriette_amo_2007246.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. |
|
Hurricane Paul
| Title |
Hurricane Paul |
| Description |
Hurricane Paul formed on October 21, 2006, in the eastern Pacific near the coast of Mexico. It grew quickly to hurricane strength as it spun off the coast near Baja California for the next several days. The sixteenth named storm of the Pacific storm season, Paul remained offshore as of October 24, though residents of southern Baja California were eyeing it warily for signs it might shift and come ashore there. This photo-like image was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] on the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite on October 23, 2006, at 12:30 p.m. local time (20:30 UTC). Paul at the time of this image was a small, well-defined swirl. However, cloud patterns over a wide area appear to be under the storm's influence, with clouds reaching as far as southern Baja. Winds around the center of Hurricane Paul were whipping around at 160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), according to the University of Hawaii's Tropical Storm Information Center. [ http://www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/ ] In 2005, the record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season was the focus of attention, with the number of named storms exhausting the letters of the alphabet. But as of late October 2006, the hurricane activity in the eastern Pacific Ocean was outpacing the Atlantic: 16 named storms (9 of them hurricanes) versus 9 named storms (5 of them hurricanes). On average, the eastern Pacific Ocean experiences more tropical storms and hurricanes than the Atlantic Basin, 16.4 compared to 10.1. Powerful hurricanes in the eastern Pacific rarely make landfall in the western United States. Persistent easterly winds not only tend to steer storms away from the coast, but they also "shove" the ocean's surface water westward, away from the coast, allowing cool water to well up to replace it. The cool water weakens any storms that do approach the coast. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team. |
|
Eruption of Anatahan
| Title |
Eruption of Anatahan |
| Description |
Though seismic equipment set up to monitor the Earth?s tremors on Anatahan Island stopped working consistently during the volcano?s explosive eruption on April 6, 2005, the machines are still sending some information to scientists monitoring the volcano. The story they tell is of a restless volcano that has become more restless since April 24. Earthquake activity has been increasing, and as this Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) image shows, the plume of ash and steam that rises from the volcano has thickened. The type of earthquakes observed at Anatahan?harmonic tremors?occur when magma moves underground and are usually associated with active volcanoes. An increase in activity may be a signal that the volcano is preparing for another eruption. Anatahan?s largest recorded eruption occurred on April 6, 2005, when it blasted about 50 million cubic meters of ash up to 50,000 feet (15 kilometers) into the atmosphere. Twenty days later, on April 26, the volcano was still sending ash and steam into the air. The April 6 eruption was preceded by three months of ash and steam plumes similar to the one seen here. Though the volcano is not currently dangerous, Emergency Management Office of the Northern Mariana Islands has declared the tiny island of Anatahan off-limits and warns aircraft to avoid the area within 10 nautical miles (about 19 kilometers) around the volcano because conditions could change rapidly. For more information about the current conditions on Anatahan, see Current Update of Anatahan Volcano [ http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cnmi/update.html ], provided by the Emergency Management Office of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Geological Survey. The above MODIS image was acquired on April 26, 2005. The large image is at MODIS maximum resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides daily images [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?Anatahan ] of the volcano as well as additional resolutions [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?Anatahan/2005116/Anatahan.2005116.aqua ] of the above image. NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC. |
|
Fires in Montana and Idaho
| Title |
Fires in Montana and Idaho |
| Description |
Intense wildfires (location in red) raged in Idaho and Montana when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured this image on August 4, 2007. According to reports from the National Interagency Fire Center [ http://www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm ] on August 7, Idaho and Montana each had 14 large fires burning, with windy weather predicted to increase fire behavior in the area in subsequent days. In Montana, the fires had affected more than 255,000 acres, in Idaho, fires had affected nearly 400,000 acres. These fires produced smoke [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=14434 ] that blanketed much of the United States. You can download a 250-meter-resolution KMZ file of the fires in Montana and Idaho [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Aug2007/montana_amo_2007216.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. |
|
Sediment from the Susquehann
| Title |
Sediment from the Susquehanna River |
| Description |
As the remnants of Hurricane Ivan moved north over the United States, it dumped torrential rain in southeastern and mid-Atlantic states, triggering inland flooding. Major rivers, including the Ohio, Susquehanna, and Deleware Rivers, pushed over their banks and forced evacuations. Muddy run-off has colored the rivers around the Chesapeake Bay a dirty brown in this true-color image, acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite on September 21, 2004. By this time, the floods had largely subsided, but evidence of flooding remains in this image. The top third of the Chesapeake Bay, normally clear and dark, is now mud colored as sediment-laden flood water drains into the bay. The Susquehanna River flows down from the top left corner of the image into the bay, and the Delaware is visible under the clouds coming out of the top right corner. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory from data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
|
Smoke over the Midwestern U.
| Title |
Smoke over the Midwestern U.S. and Canada |
| Description |
This true-color image shows smoke spreading eastward over a large region in the midwestern United States and Canada. The smoke was generated from a number of intense wildfires [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=11646 ] burning to the west in both countries [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=11647 ]. This scene was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), aboard NASA's Aqua satellite, on Aug. 22, 2003. Image by Jesse Allen, NASA Earth Observatory, based upon data courtesy MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] at Goddard Space Flight Center |
|
Fires in Southern United Sta
| Title |
Fires in Southern United States |
| Description |
Dry conditions and gusty winds are fanning fast-moving grassland fires in southern Oklahoma and northern Texas in the first part of 2006. Several ranching and farm communities have been devastated by the blazes, some of which were as large as 40,000 acres according to local news reports. This image of the south-central United States on January 2, 2006, shows several fires in Oklahoma (north) and Texas (south). The image and fire detections (marked in red) were captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite. Just south of the border between the two states, a thin, brown burn scar marks the location of the small town of Ringgold, Texas, which, according to news reports, was almost completely destroyed by a grassland fire on January 1, 2006. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
|
Fires in Southern United Sta
| Title |
Fires in Southern United States |
| Description |
Drought, high temperatures, and strong winds combined with holiday fireworks, trash fires, and careless cigarettes to create a disaster in parts of Texas and Oklahoma in late December 2005. According to the Associated Press, more than 70 fires blazed throughout north and central Texas and Oklahoma, many of them set by people ignoring local fire bans. By December 29, nearly 20,000 acres had burned in the region, more than 100 homes had been lost, and several people had died from fire-related injuries. This image shows parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, as imaged by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] flying onboard the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. The sensor took this image on December 28, 2005, the same day that the fires caused the most damage. Cloud cover obscures part of the region, but hot spots, indicated in red, appear throughout the area, many of them sending up their own plumes of smoke. North and central Texas, where most of the fires occurred, saw its fifth driest year on record in 2005. In the Dallas-Forth Worth area, annual rainfall was about 41 centimeters (16 inches) below normal. In Oklahoma, the annual rainfall was about 30 centimeters (12 inches) below normal. Shortly before the grass fires spread throughout the region, local temperatures topped 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) and worsened the already-dry conditions. The wind and heat abated somewhat after the fires started, but the National Weather Service predicted a return of heat and wind right before New Year's Day of 2006. Authorities expressed concern that a fresh round of holiday fireworks could touch off a fresh round of fires. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team. |
|
|