Images
May 2, 2024 - Fresh Snow in the Southern Alps
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A cold front brought unsettled weather to New Zealand’s South Island in late April 2024, triggering thunderstorms in the southern lowlands and an autumn snowfall in the mountains. After the clouds cleared, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of the fresh snowfall across the Southern Alps on April 27.
The rugged terrain of the Southern Alps stretches hundreds of kilometers along South Island, forming spine that is topped year-round with snow and glaciers. The highest peak in the mountain range, Aoraki Mount Cook, rises about 3,750 meters (12,300 feet) above sea level. It is located between the two largest and brightest of the turquoise-toned glacial lakes that sit on the eastern side of the mountain range.
Snow usually falls in June through October, which are winter months in New Zealand. However, cold snaps can bring snow to the highest elevations in both spring and autumn.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 4/27/2024
Resolutions:
1km (168 KB), 500m (414.3 KB), 250m (1005.2 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A cold front brought unsettled weather to New Zealand’s South Island in late April 2024, triggering thunderstorms in the southern lowlands and an autumn snowfall in the mountains. After the clouds cleared, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of the fresh snowfall across the Southern Alps on April 27.
The rugged terrain of the Southern Alps stretches hundreds of kilometers along South Island, forming spine that is topped year-round with snow and glaciers. The highest peak in the mountain range, Aoraki Mount Cook, rises about 3,750 meters (12,300 feet) above sea level. It is located between the two largest and brightest of the turquoise-toned glacial lakes that sit on the eastern side of the mountain range.
Snow usually falls in June through October, which are winter months in New Zealand. However, cold snaps can bring snow to the highest elevations in both spring and autumn.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 4/27/2024
Resolutions:
1km (168 KB), 500m (414.3 KB), 250m (1005.2 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
