Images
July 19, 2009 - Mexico and the Southwestern United States
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This image, captured by the MODIS on the Terra satellite on July 14, 2009, shows Mexico and the southwestern US. Mexico is fairly mountainous. For example, northern Mexico has an area of high plains, called the altiplano,w which lies between two mountain ranges. Along the Mexico's Pacific Coast lies an extension of the U.S. Sierra Nevada Mountains, called the Sierra Madre Occidental (West). In the eastern part of the country are the Sierra
Madre Oriental (East), which are an extension of the southern Rocky
Mountains of the U.S. This image shows the high plains and deserts of north-central Mexico sandwiched between the forested mountain ranges.
Mexico’s altiplano is divided into a northern and southern half by a
smaller, east-west trending mountain range. With an average elevation of 2000 meters, the southern half is about 1000 meters higher than the northern half. The southern altiplano houses numerous valleys and depressions, which are the remains of ancient lakes. Many of Mexico’s cities occupy these dry lake beds, including its largest, Mexico City.
Mexico and the United States are separated by the great river known as
Rio Grande in the U.S. and the Rio Bravo del Norte in Mexico. Off to
the west, the Baja California peninsula just into the Pacific Ocean,
parallel to "mainland" Mexico.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 07/14/2009
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
This image, captured by the MODIS on the Terra satellite on July 14, 2009, shows Mexico and the southwestern US. Mexico is fairly mountainous. For example, northern Mexico has an area of high plains, called the altiplano,w which lies between two mountain ranges. Along the Mexico's Pacific Coast lies an extension of the U.S. Sierra Nevada Mountains, called the Sierra Madre Occidental (West). In the eastern part of the country are the Sierra Madre Oriental (East), which are an extension of the southern Rocky Mountains of the U.S. This image shows the high plains and deserts of north-central Mexico sandwiched between the forested mountain ranges.
Mexico’s altiplano is divided into a northern and southern half by a smaller, east-west trending mountain range. With an average elevation of 2000 meters, the southern half is about 1000 meters higher than the northern half. The southern altiplano houses numerous valleys and depressions, which are the remains of ancient lakes. Many of Mexico’s cities occupy these dry lake beds, including its largest, Mexico City.
Mexico and the United States are separated by the great river known as Rio Grande in the U.S. and the Rio Bravo del Norte in Mexico. Off to the west, the Baja California peninsula just into the Pacific Ocean, parallel to "mainland" Mexico.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 07/14/2009
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
