|
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Indonesian Tropospheric Ozon
…
| Title |
Indonesian Tropospheric Ozone and Aerosol Index |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2000-10-19 |
|
Indonesian Tropospheric Ozon
…
| Title |
Indonesian Tropospheric Ozone and Aerosol Index |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2000-10-19 |
|
Indonesian Tropospheric Ozon
…
| Title |
Indonesian Tropospheric Ozone and Aerosol Index |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2000-10-19 |
|
Indonesian Tropospheric Ozon
…
| Title |
Indonesian Tropospheric Ozone and Aerosol Index |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2000-10-19 |
|
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke
…
| Title |
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke from Earth Probe TOMS: Indian Ocean to Indonesia Zoom |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2001-03-06 |
|
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke
…
| Title |
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke from Earth Probe TOMS: Indian Ocean to Indonesia Zoom |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2001-03-06 |
|
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke
…
| Title |
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke from Earth Probe TOMS: Indonesia |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2001-03-06 |
|
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke
…
| Title |
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke from Earth Probe TOMS: Indonesia |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2001-03-06 |
|
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke
…
| Title |
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke from Earth Probe TOMS: Indonesia |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2001-03-06 |
|
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke
…
| Title |
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke from Earth Probe TOMS: Indonesia |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2001-03-06 |
|
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke
…
| Title |
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke from Earth Probe TOMS: Indonesia |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2001-03-06 |
|
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke
…
| Title |
Tropospheric Ozone and Smoke from Earth Probe TOMS: Indonesia |
| Abstract |
Researchers have discovered that smoke and smog move in different ways through the atmosphere. A series of unusual events several years ago created a blanket of pollution over the Indian Ocean. In this animation, significant smog or tropospheric ozone is represented by red and green and regions of significant smoke index are in shades of white and gray. |
| Completed |
2001-03-06 |
|
Air Quality Emergency in Mal
…
| Title |
Air Quality Emergency in Malaysia |
| Description |
In mid-August, several locations in mainland Malaysia declared air quality emergencies, as smoke from burning in Indonesia wafted across the Strait of Malacca and blanketed the country with haze. Many regions closed their schools and businesses, and news reports have indicated this may be the worst air quality event the country has experienced since the terrible fire season on Sumatra during the 1997-98 El Niño. This pair of images shows the region in Sumatra where many of the fires are burning (left), and the resulting smoke blanketing Malaysia (right). Although it is sometimes difficult to distinguish smoke from clouds, the infrared-enhanced view can penetrate the smoke in places. In this type of image, vegetation is bright green, clouds are white or light blue, and smoke becomes almost transparent in many places. Water is dark blue (nearly black). Actively burning fires are marked with red dots. These images were captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] satellite on August 12, 2005. NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center. |
|
Carbon Monoxide over Indones
…
| Title |
Carbon Monoxide over Indonesia |
| Description |
Thick haze is an annual problem on the Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra during the dry season, which runs from about May through September. Along with the dry season comes large fires, often set to clear land for agriculture. This year, the choking haze and smoke produced by such fires grew particularly bad during the third week of August. On August 21, 2004, air traffic was temporarily suspended because of the low visibility. In addition to decreasing visibility, the fires burning in Indonesia produce high levels of carbon monoxide (CO), which are detected from satellite by the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT [ http://www.atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca/MOPITT/home.html ]) instrument. The image above shows the CO mixing ratio at 850 hectopascals (roughly 1-2 kilometers altitude) derived from MOPITT observations for August 5-20, 2004. The mixing ratio is given in parts per billion by volume (ppbv). Red and yellow colors represent high CO levels, blue colors mark low levels of pollution. Gray areas indicate where no data have been collected due to persistent cloud cover. The image above correlates well with images taken by the MODIS instrument on board the Aqua satellite showing the location of the fires and the outflow of smoke, see Fires on Borneo [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=12351 ]. Here, black outlines show the shape of the islands under the data. The largest island on the top right is Borneo. Yellow pixels, indicating high carbon monoxide concentrations, color the southeast corner of the island where the MODIS images also show fires and haze. Carbon monoxide concentrations also appear to be high on Sumatra, the long island pointing into the upper left corner of the image. Data courtesy of the NCAR and University of Toronto MOPITT Teams. |
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Carbon Monoxide over Indones
…
| Title |
Carbon Monoxide over Indonesia |
| Description |
The MODIS instrument onboard NASA?s Aqua satellite detected widespread fire activity on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=12530 ] The burning of biomass produces, among other pollutants, high amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) which is detected by the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument launched on board the Terra satellite in December 1999. The false-color image below shows the atmospheric carbon monoxide concentrations at 700 hPa (about 3 km altitude) over Borneo averaged for September 15 - October 15, 2004. Only data collected during daytime have been included in this image. Carbon monoxide retrievals from daytime observations are, compared to retrievals from nighttime observations, more sensitive to CO concentrations at lower altitudes and better represent the location of sources. Regions with high amounts of CO are represented in red and yellow colors and correlate well with the location of the MODIS fire counts. Areas where no data have been collected due to persistent cloud coverage are shown in gray. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the NCAR and University of Toronto MOPITT teams. |
|
Dust Storm out of Northern A
…
| Title |
Dust Storm out of Northern Africa |
| Description |
On March 29, 2007, the Shiveluch Volcano (sometimes spelled Sheveluch) on the Russian Federation's Kamchatka Peninsula erupted. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory [ http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/avoreport.php?view=kaminfo ] the volcano underwent an explosive eruption between 01:50 and 2:30 UTC, sending an ash cloud skyward roughly 9,750 meters (32,000 feet), based on visual estimates. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] flying onboard NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite took this picture at 02:00 UTC on March 29. The top image shows the volcano and its surroundings. The bottom image shows a close-up view of the volcano at 250 meters per pixel. Satellites often capture images of volcanic ash plumes, but usually as the plumes are blowing away. Plumes have been observed blowing away from Shiveluch [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=14078 ] before. This image, however, is different. At the time the Aqua satellite passed overhead, the eruption was recent enough (and the air was apparently still enough) that the ash cloud still hovered above the summit. In this image, the bulbous cloud casts its shadow northward over the icy landscape. Volcanic ash eruptions inject particles into Earth's atmosphere. Substantial eruptions of light-reflecting particles can reduce temperatures and even affect atmospheric circulation. Large eruptions impact climate patterns [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Volcano/ ] for years. A massive eruption of the Tambora Volcano [ http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/03oct_novarupta.htm ] in Indonesia in 1815, for instance, earned 1816 the nickname "the year without a summer."Shiveluch [ http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1000-27= ] is a stratovolcanoa steep-sloped volcano composed of alternating layers of solidified ash, hardened lava, and volcanic rocks. One of Kamchatka's largest volcanoes, it sports a summit reaching 3,283 meters (10,771 feet). Shiveluch is also one of the peninsula's most active volcanoes, with an estimated 60 substantial eruptions in the past 10,000 years. You can download a 250-meter-resolution KMZ file of the North African dust storm [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Mar2007/nafrica_tmo_2007087.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. |
|
Earthquake Spawns Tsunamis
| Title |
Earthquake Spawns Tsunamis |
| Description |
The island of Sumatra suffered from both the rumblings of the submarine earthquake and the tsunamis that were generated on December 26, 2004. Within minutes of the quake, the sea surged ashore, bringing destruction to the coasts of the northern Sumatra. This pair of images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA?s Terra satellite shows the Aceh province of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 17, 2004, before the quake (bottom), and on December 29, 2004 (top), three days after the catastrophe. Though MODIS was not specifically designed to make the very detailed observations that are usually necessary for mapping coastline changes, the sensor nevertheless observed obvious differences in the Sumatran coastline. On December 17, the green vegetation along the west coast appears to reach all the way to the sea, with only an occasional thin stretch of white that is likely sand. After the earthquake and tsunamis, the entire western coast is lined with a noticeable purplish-brown border. The brownish border could be deposited sand, or perhaps exposed soil that was stripped bare of vegetation when the large waves rushed ashore and then raced away. On a moderate-resolution image such as this, the affected area may seem small, but each pixel in the full resolution image is 250 by 250 meters. In places the brown strip reaches inland roughly 13 pixels, equal to a distance of 3.25 kilometers, or about 2 miles. On the northern tip of the island (shown in the large image), the incursion is even larger. NASA images created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the MODIS Rapid Response team and the Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC. |
|
Earthquake Spawns Tsunamis
| Title |
Earthquake Spawns Tsunamis |
| Description |
The island of Sumatra suffered from both the rumblings of the submarine earthquake and the tsunamis that were generated on December 26, 2004. Within minutes of the quake, the sea surged ashore, bringing destruction to the coasts of the northern Sumatra. This pair of images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA?s Terra satellite shows the Aceh province of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 17, 2004, before the quake (bottom), and on December 29, 2004 (top), three days after the catastrophe. Though MODIS was not specifically designed to make the very detailed observations that are usually necessary for mapping coastline changes, the sensor nevertheless observed obvious differences in the Sumatran coastline. On December 17, the green vegetation along the west coast appears to reach all the way to the sea, with only an occasional thin stretch of white that is likely sand. After the earthquake and tsunamis, the entire western coast is lined with a noticeable purplish-brown border. The brownish border could be deposited sand, or perhaps exposed soil that was stripped bare of vegetation when the large waves rushed ashore and then raced away. On a moderate-resolution image such as this, the affected area may seem small, but each pixel in the full resolution image is 250 by 250 meters. In places the brown strip reaches inland roughly 13 pixels, equal to a distance of 3.25 kilometers, or about 2 miles. On the northern tip of the island (shown in the large image), the incursion is even larger. NASA images created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the MODIS Rapid Response team and the Goddard Earth Sciences DAAC. |
|
Indonesia?s Ruang Volcano Er
…
| Title |
Indonesia?s Ruang Volcano Erupts |
| Description |
*Full-resolution Images:* ÿÿÿTerra MODIS at 1:55 UTC (1.1 MB) ÿÿÿAqua MODIS at 4:50 UTC (748 KB) Mount Ruang, a stratovolcano in the Indonesian Sulawesi Islands, erupted on September 25, 2002, sending a large plume of ash (gray pixels) streaming westward toward Borneo and Sumatra. The eruption was preceded by earthquakes on the day before, followed by a thick, black column of volcanic ash ejected as high as 5,000 m into the sky on the 25th. While no fatalities were reported, more than 1,000 residents on Ruang Island were forced to evacuate to a nearby island. This comparison pair of true-color images was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, flying aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, on September 25. The top image was acquired by Terra MODIS at 1:55 UTC, while the bottom image was acquired by Aqua MODIS at 4:50 UTC. Notice how much the plume grew in that 3-hour span of time. (Note: the Aqua image appears noticeably different because the relative sun angle makes both the plume and the ocean surface appear much brighter.) Images courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Indonesia?s Ruang Volcano Er
…
| Title |
Indonesia?s Ruang Volcano Erupts |
| Description |
*Full-resolution Images:* ÿÿÿTerra MODIS at 1:55 UTC (1.1 MB) ÿÿÿAqua MODIS at 4:50 UTC (748 KB) Mount Ruang, a stratovolcano in the Indonesian Sulawesi Islands, erupted on September 25, 2002, sending a large plume of ash (gray pixels) streaming westward toward Borneo and Sumatra. The eruption was preceded by earthquakes on the day before, followed by a thick, black column of volcanic ash ejected as high as 5,000 m into the sky on the 25th. While no fatalities were reported, more than 1,000 residents on Ruang Island were forced to evacuate to a nearby island. This comparison pair of true-color images was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, flying aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, on September 25. The top image was acquired by Terra MODIS at 1:55 UTC, while the bottom image was acquired by Aqua MODIS at 4:50 UTC. Notice how much the plume grew in that 3-hour span of time. (Note: the Aqua image appears noticeably different because the relative sun angle makes both the plume and the ocean surface appear much brighter.) Images courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Indonesia?s Ruang Volcano Er
…
| Title |
Indonesia?s Ruang Volcano Erupts |
| Description |
*Full-resolution Images:* ÿÿÿTerra MODIS at 1:55 UTC (1.1 MB) ÿÿÿAqua MODIS at 4:50 UTC (748 KB) Mount Ruang, a stratovolcano in the Indonesian Sulawesi Islands, erupted on September 25, 2002, sending a large plume of ash (gray pixels) streaming westward toward Borneo and Sumatra. The eruption was preceded by earthquakes on the day before, followed by a thick, black column of volcanic ash ejected as high as 5,000 m into the sky on the 25th. While no fatalities were reported, more than 1,000 residents on Ruang Island were forced to evacuate to a nearby island. This comparison pair of true-color images was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, flying aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, on September 25. The top image was acquired by Terra MODIS at 1:55 UTC, while the bottom image was acquired by Aqua MODIS at 4:50 UTC. Notice how much the plume grew in that 3-hour span of time. (Note: the Aqua image appears noticeably different because the relative sun angle makes both the plume and the ocean surface appear much brighter.) Images courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Magnitude 6.3 quake in centr
…
| Title |
Magnitude 6.3 quake in central Java |
| Description |
A powerful earthquake rattled Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia, in the early morning hours of May 27, 2006. The quake destroyed more than 60,000 houses in the city, and killed an estimated 6,234 people, reported the World Health Organization on June 6. Though Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes, the May 27 quake was unusual in that it was centered about 10 kilometers under the Earth's surface, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Most earthquakes in Indonesia occur deep under the Earth's surface where the slab of the Earth's crust that carries Australia (the Australia Plate) sinks beneath the Sunda Plate on which the islands of Indonesia ride. Earthquakes occur in the sometimes-messy grind of colliding plates, but these are centered deep below the Earth's surface. The May 27 earthquake happened near the surface along a fault in the Sunda Plate, about 20 kilometers south-southeast of Yogyakarta. This image shows the topography of the landscape near the earthquake epicenter. Yogyakarta sits in a broad valley between two groups of roughly north-running mountains. The towering Merapi Volcano caps the northeast end of the valley. Behind it is the single peak of the Sundoro Volcano and a cluster of small peaks in the Dieng Volcano Complex. The Slamet and Cereme Volcanoes are west of Merapi in the upper-left corner of the image. The earthquake occurred along a fault east of the mountains that frame Yogyakarta to the east. The image was created from data collected by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. The earthquake is not the only geologic activity to threaten the region: the Merapi volcano was also rumbling at the end of May. The volcano sent clouds of hot gas and lava down its slopes on June 6, prompting the evacuation of 11,000 people, said news reports. The ASTER sensor on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured an image [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13628 ] of the volcano in action on June 6. The volcano had been showing signs of increased activity since April, but activity picked up after the May 27 earthquake. While volcanic activity and earthquakes are often connected, it is not clear if the May 27 earthquake is directly linked to Merapi's activity, said the USGS. The same underlying geologic processes may have triggered both events. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data provided courtesy of the Unviersity of Maryland's Global Land Cover Facility. [ http://www.landcover.org/ ] |
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Fires and Heavy Smoke in Sum
…
| Title |
Fires and Heavy Smoke in Sumatra |
| Description |
The smoke was so thick over some parts of Sumatra, Indonesia, in late February 2002 that officials were forced to close schools due to the health hazard. As can be seen in this true-color scene acquired on March 8, 2002, many fires continue to burn along the eastern side of Sumatra while strong winds are blowing the smoke back onto the island. This image was acquired by the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modarch.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] (MODIS), flying aboard NASA?s Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. The red boxes (see the high-resolution image) indicate the areas recently burned or still burning. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Fires and Heavy Smoke in Sum
…
| Title |
Fires and Heavy Smoke in Sumatra |
| Description |
The smoke was so thick over some parts of Sumatra, Indonesia, in late February 2002 that officials were forced to close schools due to the health hazard. As can be seen in this true-color scene acquired on March 13, 2002, many fires continue to burn along the eastern side of Sumatra while strong winds are blowing the smoke back over the island. This image was acquired by the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modarch.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] (MODIS), flying aboard NASA?s Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. The red boxes (see the high-resolution image) indicate the areas recently burned or still burning. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Fires and Heavy Smoke in Sum
…
| Title |
Fires and Heavy Smoke in Sumatra |
| Description |
*Fires and Heavy Smoke in Sumatra* At least once a year for a period lasting from a week to several months, northern Sumatra is obscured by smoke and haze produced by agricultural burning and forest fires. These data products from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) document the presence of airborne particulates on March 13, 2002. On the left is an image acquired by MISR?s 70-degree backward-viewing camera. On the right is a map of aerosol optical depth, a measure of the abundance of atmospheric particulates. This product utilized a test version of the MISR retrieval that incorporates an experimental set of aerosol mixtures. The haze has completely obscured northeastern Sumatra and part of the Strait of Malacca, which separates Sumatra and the Malaysian Peninsula. A northward gradient is apparent as the haze dissipates in the direction of the Malaysian landmass. Each panel covers an area of about 760 kilometers x 400 kilometers. Haze conditions had posed a health concern during late February (when schools in some parts of North Sumatra were closed), and worsened considerably in the first two weeks of March. By mid-March, local meteorology officials asked residents of North Sumatra?s provincial capital, Medan, to minimize their outdoor activities and wear protective masks. Poor visibility at Medan airport forced a passenger plane to divert to Malaysia on March 14, and visibility reportedly ranged between 100 and 600 meters in some coastal towns southeast of Medan. The number and severity of this year?s fires was exacerbated by dry weather conditions associated with the onset of a weak to moderate El Niño. The governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei have agreed to ban open burning in plantation and forest areas. The enforcement of such fire bans, however, has proven to be an extremely challenging task. Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL, MISR Team [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/redirect?http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/ ] |
|
North Reef Island, Andaman S
…
| Title |
North Reef Island, Andaman Sea |
| Description |
On December 26, 2004, one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history struck offshore of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The ocean floor heaved in some places and sank in others, creating catastrophic tsunamis that raced across the Indian Ocean. Hundreds of thousands of people died as the waves struck coastlines from Thailand to Sri Lanka to Somalia. In addition to tsunami damage, satellite images of reefs, islands, and coastlines identified signs of permanent elevation changesinking or upliftalong the fault between the Indo-Australia and Burma plates. [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=12640 ] In places such as North Reef Island, shown in this pair of images from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) [ http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] satellite, the quake lifted the reefs permanently out of the water. The images use visible and infrared light detected by ASTER to make different land surfaces stand out clearly from one another: water is blue, vegetation is red, coral or bare sand appears white. In the "before" image, from December 2, 2004, the submerged reef creates a bright blue glow around the island. In the "after" image, from February 4, 2005, the white coral stands completely up out of the water. It is even tinged with red, which suggests the exposed coral had died, and algae had colonized it. In the weeks and months after the earthquake, satellite images provided broad coverage of an area where ground-based observations were initially very limited. A team of scientists led by Caltech Ph.D. geology student Aron Meltzner discovered changes in elevation along nearly 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) of the tectonic plate boundary. The images revealed that the earthquake rupture extended 100 kilometers (62 miles) farther north than estimates based on seismic and Global Positioning System (GPS) data suggested. The feature article Rise and Fall: Satellites Reveal Full Length of Tsunami-Generating Earthquake [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Aceh/aceh.html ] describes how scientists used satellite images to map the length of the earthquake rupture zone. The article includes additional satellite and ground-based images of elevation changes resulting from the 2004 Aceh-Andaman earthquake. NASA images created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team. [ http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/ ] |
|
North Reef Island, Andaman S
…
| Title |
North Reef Island, Andaman Sea |
| Description |
On December 26, 2004, one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history struck offshore of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The ocean floor heaved in some places and sank in others, creating catastrophic tsunamis that raced across the Indian Ocean. Hundreds of thousands of people died as the waves struck coastlines from Thailand to Sri Lanka to Somalia. In addition to tsunami damage, satellite images of reefs, islands, and coastlines identified signs of permanent elevation changesinking or upliftalong the fault between the Indo-Australia and Burma plates. [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=12640 ] In places such as North Reef Island, shown in this pair of images from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) [ http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] satellite, the quake lifted the reefs permanently out of the water. The images use visible and infrared light detected by ASTER to make different land surfaces stand out clearly from one another: water is blue, vegetation is red, coral or bare sand appears white. In the "before" image, from December 2, 2004, the submerged reef creates a bright blue glow around the island. In the "after" image, from February 4, 2005, the white coral stands completely up out of the water. It is even tinged with red, which suggests the exposed coral had died, and algae had colonized it. In the weeks and months after the earthquake, satellite images provided broad coverage of an area where ground-based observations were initially very limited. A team of scientists led by Caltech Ph.D. geology student Aron Meltzner discovered changes in elevation along nearly 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) of the tectonic plate boundary. The images revealed that the earthquake rupture extended 100 kilometers (62 miles) farther north than estimates based on seismic and Global Positioning System (GPS) data suggested. The feature article Rise and Fall: Satellites Reveal Full Length of Tsunami-Generating Earthquake [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Aceh/aceh.html ] describes how scientists used satellite images to map the length of the earthquake rupture zone. The article includes additional satellite and ground-based images of elevation changes resulting from the 2004 Aceh-Andaman earthquake. NASA images created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team. [ http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/ ] |
|
Fires in Indonesia
| Title |
Fires in Indonesia |
| Description |
Scores of fires were smoking across Sumatra (center) on June 8, 2003, trailing smoke across the Strait of Malacca, which separates Sumatra from Malaysia to the north, and also over the the Indian Ocean (bottom left). This image of active fire locations (red dots) was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite. Image courtesy Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team. |
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Fires in Indonesia
| Title |
Fires in Indonesia |
| Description |
Measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) from the Measurements of Pollution in The Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument on NASA?s Terra satellite show the pollutants from widespread biomass burning on Sumatra, Indonesia, being carried northward toward the Asian mainland. This image shows the mixing ratio of carbon monoxide at about 3 km (700 km) above the surface for June 1-10, 2003. This MOPITT image corresponds well with this true-color image [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=10707 ] from Terra MODIS that shows the locations of the fires and the resulting pall of smoke over Sumatra on June 8. Carbon monoxide is a good tracer of pollution since it is produced as a by-product of the combustion associated with wildfires and agricultural fires. The reds in this image show the highest levels of carbon monoxide and blues show the lowest levels. The gray areas show where no data were collected, either due to persistent cloud cover or gaps between viewing swaths. Image by Jesse Allen, NASA Earth Observatory, based upon data courtesy of the NCAR and University of Toronto MOPITT teams. |
|
Fires in New Guinea
| Title |
Fires in New Guinea |
| Description |
On October 22, 2003, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite captured this image of the island of New Guinea. This image is focused on the western part of the island, which is the Irian Jaya region of Indonesia. (The eastern part of the island is the country of Papua New Guinea.) Numerous fires burned across the southern part of the island, they were detected by MODIS and are marked with red dots in this image. Image courtesy Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC |
|
Fires in Sumatra
| Title |
Fires in Sumatra |
| Description |
This false-color image shows concentrations of carbon monoxide in the lower atmosphere over the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. This image represents a composite of data collected from June 17-24, 2004, by the Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite. The colors represent the mixing ratios of carbon monoxide in the air, given in parts per billion by volume. In this scene, values range from as high as 210 ppbv (red pixels) to as low as 0 ppbv (blue pixels). The grey areas show where no data were collected, either due to persistent cloud cover or gaps between viewing swaths. (Light gray shows land masses and dark gray shows the Pacific Ocean.) During the time MOPITT collected these data, the MODIS sensor aboard NASA's Aqua satellite observed widespread fires actively burning on the island. [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=12192 ] Along with smoke and particulate emissions, carbon monoxide is a byproduct of burning biomass and fossil fuels. NASA image by Jesse Allen, using data courtesy the MOPITT instrument team at NCAR/UCAR |
|
Thunderstorm over the Indian
…
| Title |
Thunderstorm over the Indian Ocean |
| Description |
On January 24, 2007, a minor cloud system blossomed in the Indian Ocean between Indonesia and northwestern Australia. The storm lacked the circulation of a tropical storm, so it never received a name. It did not strike any major populated centers, so it never was a news item. But newsworthy and fascinating are not always the same thing, and the symmetrical shape of the storm and the apparently expanding ring of cloud ripples shown in this image suggest some intriguing atmospheric physics in action. This photo-like image was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] on the Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite on January 24, 2007, at 10:10 a.m. local time (2:10 UTC). The circular cloud system in the image was driven by powerful thunderstorms that previously raged beneath the now-ragged cirrus clouds at the system's center. The clouds formed from an afternoon convection system, a vigorous overturning of the air that is common this time of year near Australia's tropical northern coast. The system traveled westward over Austalia's Northern Territory, eventually reaching the coast of Western Australia. Over the Indian Ocean, the cloud system grew rapidly, drawing warm, moist ocean air up into the top of the storm. At the top of this convection system, the air ceased to flow upward and spilled out into an expanding ring. This same process almost always occurs in thunderstorms, but in this case there appears to have been relatively constant wind through a deep layer of the atmosphere, allowing the uplifted air to spread out equally in all directions. The clouds at the top of the storm dispersed as an expanding disk of cirrus cloud. The outflowing air may also have disturbed and amplified existing clouds, making them more reflective. Increased reflection of sunlight makes the clouds seem more brightly white to the MODIS sensor. NASA image by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center. Image interpretation provided by George Huffman, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. |
|
Fires on Borneo
| Title |
Fires on Borneo |
| Description |
Thick smoke hung over the island of Borneo when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] satellite passed overhead on October 5, 2006. The sensor detected scores of fires (locations marked in red) in the Kalimantan province of Indonesia, and smoke billowed northward over the Malaysian part of the island, as well. The fires occur annually in the dry season (August-October), caused mainly by land-clearing and other agricultural fires. Fires escape control and burn into forests and peat-swamp areas. Fires in peatthick layers of dead, but un-decayed vegetationare extremely smoky and difficult to put out. Some of the blazes will only be extinguished when the monsoon rains start in upcoming weeks. You can also download a 250 m resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Oct2006/Borneo.A2006278.0250.250m.kmz ] (1.9 MB) for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. |
|
Fires on Borneo
| Title |
Fires on Borneo |
| Description |
Thick smoke hung over the island of Borneo when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] satellite passed overhead on October 5, 2006. The sensor detected scores of fires (locations marked in red) in the Kalimantan province of Indonesia, and smoke billowed northward over the Malaysian part of the island, as well. The fires occur annually in the dry season (August-October), caused mainly by land-clearing and other agricultural fires. Fires escape control and burn into forests and peat-swamp areas. Fires in peatthick layers of dead, but un-decayed vegetationare extremely smoky and difficult to put out. Some of the blazes will only be extinguished when the monsoon rains start in upcoming weeks. You can also download a 250 m resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Oct2006/Borneo.A2006278.0250.250m.kmz ] (1.9 MB) for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. |
|
Fires on Borneo and Sumatra
| Title |
Fires on Borneo and Sumatra |
| Description |
Through cloudy skies, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites detected fires (marked in yellow) burning on the island of Borneo on August 17, 2004. The top image was captured in the afternoon (local time) and shows more fire activity than the morning image (bottom). The bulk of the island (south and central parts) is occupied by the Kalimantan region of Indonesia, while a strip across the northern part is occupied by the Sarawak region of Malaysia. Most of the fires are along the swampy western and southern coastlines of Kalimantan. Image by Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-GSFC |
|
Fires on Borneo and Sumatra
| Title |
Fires on Borneo and Sumatra |
| Description |
Through cloudy skies, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites detected fires (marked in yellow) burning on the island of Borneo on August 17, 2004. The top image was captured in the afternoon (local time) and shows more fire activity than the morning image (bottom). The bulk of the island (south and central parts) is occupied by the Kalimantan region of Indonesia, while a strip across the northern part is occupied by the Sarawak region of Malaysia. Most of the fires are along the swampy western and southern coastlines of Kalimantan. Image by Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-GSFC |
|
Fires on Borneo and Sumatra
| Title |
Fires on Borneo and Sumatra |
| Description |
Through cloudy skies, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites detected fires (marked in yellow) burning on the island of Borneo on August 17, 2004. The top image was captured in the afternoon (local time) and shows more fire activity than the morning image (bottom). The bulk of the island (south and central parts) is occupied by the Kalimantan region of Indonesia, while a strip across the northern part is occupied by the Sarawak region of Malaysia. Most of the fires are along the swampy western and southern coastlines of Kalimantan. Image by Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-GSFC |
|
Fires on Borneo and Sumatra
| Title |
Fires on Borneo and Sumatra |
| Description |
In Sumatra and Indonesia, seasonal fires and the thick smoke they produce plagued the islands for nearly two months in late 2006. Beginning in mid-September 2006, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] and Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellites detected numerous fires in daily images of the area. This image was captured by Aqua MODIS on November 5, 2006. Active fire locations are marked with red dots. Thick smoke spreads between the two islands, the grayish haze mingling with brighter clouds. Many factors contribute to the fires, which usually start from agricultural burning, but often spread into adjacent tropical forest. When the forests have been degraded by logging, they become much more prone to fire. In addition, climate fluctuations, such as droughts that occur in concert with El Niño events, can make the fires worse. During droughts, the typically soggy forest floor of these lowland forests dries out. The thick layer of dead vegetation on the forest floor, peat, becomes flammable and produces enormous quantities of smoke when it burns. You can download a 250-meter-resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Nov2006/indonesia_amo_2006309.kmz ] of Borneo and Sumatra for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team. |
|
Fires on Sumatra
| Title |
Fires on Sumatra |
| Description |
A thick cloud of smoke pours from forest fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Forest fires are common in Indonesia during the hot, dry months of the dry season, which runs from June to September. Hot, dry weather and winds blowing from the southwest help fires explode in Indonesia?s forests, and such conditions probably fed the fires seen outlined in red in this image. The winds are also responsible for blanketing parts of Malaysia with smoke. In this image, a white plume of smoke snakes north and east from the fires, moving inland over northern Malaysia. Not only does the dense haze decrease visibility, posing a traffic hazard for both air and ground travel, but the smoke could cause serious health problems. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) onboard NASA?s Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite acquired this image in the morning of June 25, 2005. By afternoon, the fires had grown to the point that the narrow Strait of Malacca that separates Malaysia from Sumatra was barely visible. Unfortunately, clouds also partially obscured the view of the region. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Fires on Sumatra
| Title |
Fires on Sumatra |
| Description |
A thick cloud of smoke pours from forest fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Forest fires are common in Indonesia during the hot, dry months of the dry season, which runs from June to September. Hot, dry weather and winds blowing from the southwest help fires explode in Indonesia?s forests, and such conditions probably fed the fires seen outlined in red in this image. The winds are also responsible for blanketing parts of Malaysia with smoke. In this image, a white plume of smoke snakes north and east from the fires, moving inland over northern Malaysia. Not only does the dense haze decrease visibility, posing a traffic hazard for both air and ground travel, but the smoke could cause serious health problems. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) onboard NASA?s Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite acquired this image in the morning of June 25, 2005. By afternoon, the fires had grown to the point that the narrow Strait of Malacca that separates Malaysia from Sumatra was barely visible. Unfortunately, clouds also partially obscured the view of the region. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Tropical Cyclone Fiona
| Title |
Tropical Cyclone Fiona |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Fiona is caught whirling in the Indian Ocean south of Sumatra (Indonesia) on Feb. 10, 2003, in this true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Terra satellite. With maximum sustained winds at 90 knots (104 miles per hour) and gusts up to 110 (126 miles per hour), Fiona was located about 350 nautical miles (403 miles) southwest of the Cocos Islands and was predicted to move west to west-southwest over the course of the day. The high-resolution image provided above is 500 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at MODIS? maximum spatial resolution of 250 meters. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC |
|
Flooding in Indonesia
| Title |
Flooding in Indonesia |
| Description |
Days of heavy rain in Indonesia pushed Lake Tempe and the Tondano River, image center, to overflowing. The Lake and the Tondano River, both in Southern Sulawesi, rose to cover hectares of paddies and cacao plantations. The government reports that hundreds of homes and public facilities have been evacuated. The incessant rains have also caused fatal mudslides along the western coast of the island to the north and south of the area shown in these images. These Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] (MODIS) images show Lake Tempe and the Tondano River before (bottom) and during (top) the flood. In these false color images, water is blue and black, vegetation is bright green, and clouds are light blue. The flood image was taken on January 5, 2004, by the Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. The pre-flood image, also captured by the Terra satellite, was acquired on December 13, 2003. The high resolution image provided above shows the flood area at MODIS? maximum resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The image is available in additional resolutions [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2004005-0105/Indonesia.A2004005.0225.721 ]. The pre-flood image [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2003347-1213/Indonesia.A2003347.0220.721 ] is also available in multiple resolutions. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Flooding in Indonesia
| Title |
Flooding in Indonesia |
| Description |
Days of heavy rain in Indonesia pushed Lake Tempe and the Tondano River, image center, to overflowing. The Lake and the Tondano River, both in Southern Sulawesi, rose to cover hectares of paddies and cacao plantations. The government reports that hundreds of homes and public facilities have been evacuated. The incessant rains have also caused fatal mudslides along the western coast of the island to the north and south of the area shown in these images. These Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] (MODIS) images show Lake Tempe and the Tondano River before (bottom) and during (top) the flood. In these false color images, water is blue and black, vegetation is bright green, and clouds are light blue. The flood image was taken on January 5, 2004, by the Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. The pre-flood image, also captured by the Terra satellite, was acquired on December 13, 2003. The high resolution image provided above shows the flood area at MODIS? maximum resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The image is available in additional resolutions [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2004005-0105/Indonesia.A2004005.0225.721 ]. The pre-flood image [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2003347-1213/Indonesia.A2003347.0220.721 ] is also available in multiple resolutions. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC |
|
Floods in East Africa
| Title |
Floods in East Africa |
| Description |
Severe drought early in 2006 followed by widespread flooding [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13795 ] during August crippled Ethiopia. In late October and early November, the disaster continued to develop as heavy rain once again sent the Wabe Shebele River over its banks. The swollen river grew to twice its normal size, inundating towns that line its fertile banks, reported the World Food Program [ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WFP/4d4580f3cc2d9d49654e66a8daf84c16.htm ]. More than 60 people died in the floods, and many more were impacted. On November 1, 2006, skies cleared, providing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite a clear view of the floods in southeastern Ethiopia. The Wabe Shabele spreads several kilometers across its flood plain, its water ranging from inky black to light blue. The scene is shown in infrared-enhanced false color to highlight the presence of water on the ground. In this color combination, made with both visible and infrared light, water is typically black, as it is in the lower reaches of the river in this image. Elsewhere in the scene, however, water is light blue because sediment in the water scatters light. The pale blue color blends with the light green of newly growing plants, making it difficult to tell just how extensive the floods are on the west bank of the river. Other waterways on either side of the Wabe Shabele are also filled with mud-laden, light blue water. The lower image, taken on October 7, shows the Wabe Shabele under normal conditions. Though the river is prone to flooding, the attractiveness of living along its banks is clear from this image. Little vegetation is growing in the arid region except along the river's banks, which are lined in green. Conditions changed by November 1. The same rainfall that caused the floods also spurred plant growth, and the landscape went from a barren tan-pink to verdant green. Lines of high clouds, pale blue and white in this false-color image, are scattered across both images. Like much of East Africa, southeastern Ethiopia goes through a regular cycle of floods and droughts. The cycle is in part driven by El Niño, a cyclical warming of ocean waters in the central and eastern Pacific that can alter weather patterns around the world. In general, El Niño causes drought in some regions, such as Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines, while bringing excess rain to others, including East Africa and the southwestern United States. In September 2006, NASA's JASON satellite recorded a weak El Niño [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17419 ] in the tropical Pacific Ocean. At the same time, drought [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13943 ], was settling in over Australia, and heavy rain pounded East Africa. NASA images created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team. |
|
Floods in East Africa
| Title |
Floods in East Africa |
| Description |
Severe drought early in 2006 followed by widespread flooding [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13795 ] during August crippled Ethiopia. In late October and early November, the disaster continued to develop as heavy rain once again sent the Wabe Shebele River over its banks. The swollen river grew to twice its normal size, inundating towns that line its fertile banks, reported the World Food Program [ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WFP/4d4580f3cc2d9d49654e66a8daf84c16.htm ]. More than 60 people died in the floods, and many more were impacted. On November 1, 2006, skies cleared, providing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite a clear view of the floods in southeastern Ethiopia. The Wabe Shabele spreads several kilometers across its flood plain, its water ranging from inky black to light blue. The scene is shown in infrared-enhanced false color to highlight the presence of water on the ground. In this color combination, made with both visible and infrared light, water is typically black, as it is in the lower reaches of the river in this image. Elsewhere in the scene, however, water is light blue because sediment in the water scatters light. The pale blue color blends with the light green of newly growing plants, making it difficult to tell just how extensive the floods are on the west bank of the river. Other waterways on either side of the Wabe Shabele are also filled with mud-laden, light blue water. The lower image, taken on October 7, shows the Wabe Shabele under normal conditions. Though the river is prone to flooding, the attractiveness of living along its banks is clear from this image. Little vegetation is growing in the arid region except along the river's banks, which are lined in green. Conditions changed by November 1. The same rainfall that caused the floods also spurred plant growth, and the landscape went from a barren tan-pink to verdant green. Lines of high clouds, pale blue and white in this false-color image, are scattered across both images. Like much of East Africa, southeastern Ethiopia goes through a regular cycle of floods and droughts. The cycle is in part driven by El Niño, a cyclical warming of ocean waters in the central and eastern Pacific that can alter weather patterns around the world. In general, El Niño causes drought in some regions, such as Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines, while bringing excess rain to others, including East Africa and the southwestern United States. In September 2006, NASA's JASON satellite recorded a weak El Niño [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17419 ] in the tropical Pacific Ocean. At the same time, drought [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13943 ], was settling in over Australia, and heavy rain pounded East Africa. NASA images created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team. |
|
Volcanic Activity on Dukono
| Title |
Volcanic Activity on Dukono |
| Description |
Dukono Volcano on Halmahera, Indonesia, released a plume of ash and/or steam on December 5, 2006. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] flying onboard NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured this image the same day. In this image, Dukono's ash plume peeks out from under fluffy white clouds clustered over the volcano's summit. In the remote regions of the island of Halmahera, Dukono [ http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0608-01= ] is a complex volcano [ http://www.volcanolive.com/complex.html ] with more than one kind of landform. Between the 1930s and the 1990s, routine observations showed nearly continuous explosive eruptions. A 250-meter-resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Dec2006/dukono_tmo_2006339.kmz ] of the volcanic plume is available for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team. |
|
Volcanic Plume from Mount Se
…
| Title |
Volcanic Plume from Mount Semeru, Java |
| Description |
On the Island of Java, Indonesia, Mount Semeru released a volcanic plume on May 3, 2007. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] took this picture the same day. This image shows the opaque, gray-beige plume blowing toward the west over the island of Java. Scattered around the volcano are bright white clouds.Semeru [ http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0603-30= ] is a stratovolcano composed of alternating layers of solidified lava, hardened ash, and volcanic rocks. In part of a larger pattern of seismic activity on Java, the volcano erupted [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13607 ] in 2006. You can download a 250-meter-resolution Semeru KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/May2007/semeru_tmo_2007123.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. |
|
Carbon Monoxide over Indones
…
nasa, nasanaturalhazards
The MODIS instrument onboard
…
moppit_borneo_25oct04
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2004-10-15 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA Image Of The Day |
| identifier |
moppit_borneo_25oct04 |
|
Global Aerosol System 2000-2
…
nasa, nasaimageofthedaygalle
…
, as was smoke from central
…
aotanomaly_tmo_2007
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2008 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA Image Of The Day |
| identifier |
aotanomaly_tmo_2007 |
|
Volcanic Plume from Mount Se
…
nasa, nasanaturalhazards
On the Island of Java, Indon
…
semeru_tmo_2007123
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2007-05-03 |
| creator |
NASA -- NASA Image Of The Day |
| identifier |
semeru_tmo_2007123 |
|
|
