Images
January 21, 2011 - Alaska
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Winter snow blankets southwest Alaska on January 12, 2011, bringing the varied topography of the region into sharp relief. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite captured this true-color image at 23:20 UTC that same day.
Near the upper edge of the image, just left of center, the white arc of the Yukon River Delta protrudes into the ice-covered Bering Sea. The spreading branches of the Yukon River appear blue-white within that arc, creating a design which looks much like a stylized leafless tree on a snowy background.
The Yukon River Delta provides a rich habitat for many species of animals, particularly waterfowl. Millions of ducks, geese and shorebirds create a cacophonous spectacle each spring as they return to their nesting grounds in this region. The Yukon River and Bering Sea are extremely important salmon habitat, providing much of the world’s supply of wild-caught salmon. Along the coast, the waters of the Bering Sea are home to a variety of marine mammals, including migrating whales.
Just south of the Yukon River Delta, the triangular shape of Kuskokwim Bay appears bright white. At this time of year, it is ice-covered and in this image it also appears to be covered by snow. The Kuskokwim River etches the land eastward of this Bay, marking its route through treeless tundra. Inland and south of the Kuskokwim, the mountains of the Alaska Range rise upward, creating what appear to be rippled lines in the bright snow cover.
The Alaskan Peninsula stretches across greenish-blue frigid waters near the bottom of the image. The mountains on the peninsula are known as the Aleutian Range, and as part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, contains many active volcanoes. Although no red “hotspots” suggestive of volcanic activity mark any thermal anomalies on this day, tan coloration is visible where the land is free of snow cover.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/12/2011
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Winter snow blankets southwest Alaska on January 12, 2011, bringing the varied topography of the region into sharp relief. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite captured this true-color image at 23:20 UTC that same day.
Near the upper edge of the image, just left of center, the white arc of the Yukon River Delta protrudes into the ice-covered Bering Sea. The spreading branches of the Yukon River appear blue-white within that arc, creating a design which looks much like a stylized leafless tree on a snowy background.
The Yukon River Delta provides a rich habitat for many species of animals, particularly waterfowl. Millions of ducks, geese and shorebirds create a cacophonous spectacle each spring as they return to their nesting grounds in this region. The Yukon River and Bering Sea are extremely important salmon habitat, providing much of the world’s supply of wild-caught salmon. Along the coast, the waters of the Bering Sea are home to a variety of marine mammals, including migrating whales.
Just south of the Yukon River Delta, the triangular shape of Kuskokwim Bay appears bright white. At this time of year, it is ice-covered and in this image it also appears to be covered by snow. The Kuskokwim River etches the land eastward of this Bay, marking its route through treeless tundra. Inland and south of the Kuskokwim, the mountains of the Alaska Range rise upward, creating what appear to be rippled lines in the bright snow cover.
The Alaskan Peninsula stretches across greenish-blue frigid waters near the bottom of the image. The mountains on the peninsula are known as the Aleutian Range, and as part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, contains many active volcanoes. Although no red “hotspots” suggestive of volcanic activity mark any thermal anomalies on this day, tan coloration is visible where the land is free of snow cover.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/12/2011
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
