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September 28, 2025 - Shatt al-Arab and the Persian Gulf
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On September 25, 2025, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the Shatt al-Arab River and the northern Persian Gulf.
The Shatt al-Arab is formed where the Tigris and Euphrates meet near the town of Al Qurnah, Iraq. The river not only drains the combined flow of both of those major rivers, but also the Karun River of Iran. Also, in the lower reaches, Shatt al-Arab forms the border between Iraq and Iran.
As the Shatt al-Arab pours fresh water into the Persian Gulf, it spills a heavy load of sediment, which disperses into the otherwise blue waters. When sediment floats near the surface, it appears tan but, as sediment sinks, its reflectivity changes. Since its color changes with reflectivity, sediment changes from tan to green and then, when it sinks far enough, to blue in true-color satellite images.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 9/25/2025
Resolutions:
1km (42.9 KB), 500m (101.5 KB), 250m (160.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On September 25, 2025, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the Shatt al-Arab River and the northern Persian Gulf.
The Shatt al-Arab is formed where the Tigris and Euphrates meet near the town of Al Qurnah, Iraq. The river not only drains the combined flow of both of those major rivers, but also the Karun River of Iran. Also, in the lower reaches, Shatt al-Arab forms the border between Iraq and Iran.
As the Shatt al-Arab pours fresh water into the Persian Gulf, it spills a heavy load of sediment, which disperses into the otherwise blue waters. When sediment floats near the surface, it appears tan but, as sediment sinks, its reflectivity changes. Since its color changes with reflectivity, sediment changes from tan to green and then, when it sinks far enough, to blue in true-color satellite images.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 9/25/2025
Resolutions:
1km (42.9 KB), 500m (101.5 KB), 250m (160.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
