Images
March 21, 2011 - Snow in Lebanon
Tweet
Late winter snows covered the mountains of Lebanon and Turkey on March 17, 2011. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite captured this true-color image on the same day.
Both countries are often considered to be sunny escapes from bitter winter weather, but that is generally true only on the coasts. The moderate Mediterranean climate brings cool and sometimes rainy winters to the coasts, but in the higher elevations the temperatures usually drop below freezing with frequent and sometimes heavy snow. Snow is reliable enough to make skiing a popular winter pastime, with Lebanon sporting six ski resorts and an additional dozen located in Turkey.
In this image, Lebanon can be seen in the center of the coast, with the island of Cyprus to the west in the Mediterranean Sea. The mainland of Turkey lies north of Cyprus. The snow in Lebanon lies in two bands parallel to the coast. The Lebanon Mountains lie nearest the coast and are covered with a bright layer of white indicating a heavy snow cover. To the east, a lighter band of snow covers the Anti-Lebanon Mountains on the Lebanon-Syria border.
Although snowfalls in the two prior winters were very low, raising concerns of a significant warming trend, the winter of 2010-2011 appears to be a more robust one for Lebanon. On March 10, heavy rains and snow caused flooding in northern Lebanon on the border with Syria and snow has continued to fall since that time. In contrast, according to local news reports the prior year’s warming trend has continued for nearby Cyprus, bringing increased rain, decreased snow, and a shortened ski season.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 3/17/2011
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Late winter snows covered the mountains of Lebanon and Turkey on March 17, 2011. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite captured this true-color image on the same day.
Both countries are often considered to be sunny escapes from bitter winter weather, but that is generally true only on the coasts. The moderate Mediterranean climate brings cool and sometimes rainy winters to the coasts, but in the higher elevations the temperatures usually drop below freezing with frequent and sometimes heavy snow. Snow is reliable enough to make skiing a popular winter pastime, with Lebanon sporting six ski resorts and an additional dozen located in Turkey.
In this image, Lebanon can be seen in the center of the coast, with the island of Cyprus to the west in the Mediterranean Sea. The mainland of Turkey lies north of Cyprus. The snow in Lebanon lies in two bands parallel to the coast. The Lebanon Mountains lie nearest the coast and are covered with a bright layer of white indicating a heavy snow cover. To the east, a lighter band of snow covers the Anti-Lebanon Mountains on the Lebanon-Syria border.
Although snowfalls in the two prior winters were very low, raising concerns of a significant warming trend, the winter of 2010-2011 appears to be a more robust one for Lebanon. On March 10, heavy rains and snow caused flooding in northern Lebanon on the border with Syria and snow has continued to fall since that time. In contrast, according to local news reports the prior year’s warming trend has continued for nearby Cyprus, bringing increased rain, decreased snow, and a shortened ski season.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 3/17/2011
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
