Images
January 27, 2023 - Snow in the Taklimakan Desert
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On January 22, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra captured a rare view of a swath of the Taklimakan Desert buried under snow. The blanket of white stretches across the sand from the Pamir Mountains (west) eastward north of the Kunlun Mountains. The snow appears deepest in the southwest, while snow-topped sand dunes create an unusual sight in the east.
A strong storm moved across the region from January 12 through January 15. MODIS imagery shows white atop the desert as early as January 14. By January 22, after several days of clear skies, the extent of the snow had begun to diminish. As of January 26, snow remains over parts of the southwest corner of the Taklimakan Desert.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 1/22/2023
Resolutions:
1km (356.8 KB), 500m (1008.6 KB), 250m (759.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On January 22, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra captured a rare view of a swath of the Taklimakan Desert buried under snow. The blanket of white stretches across the sand from the Pamir Mountains (west) eastward north of the Kunlun Mountains. The snow appears deepest in the southwest, while snow-topped sand dunes create an unusual sight in the east.
A strong storm moved across the region from January 12 through January 15. MODIS imagery shows white atop the desert as early as January 14. By January 22, after several days of clear skies, the extent of the snow had begun to diminish. As of January 26, snow remains over parts of the southwest corner of the Taklimakan Desert.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 1/22/2023
Resolutions:
1km (356.8 KB), 500m (1008.6 KB), 250m (759.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
