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July 2, 2023 - Garabogazköl Bay
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Swirls of sediment floated in the Garabogazköl Bay in late June 2023. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired true-color image of the scene on June 27. The turbid waters of the Bay contrast sharply with the uniform deep blue of the Caspian Sea, which can be seen in the west.
Garabogazköl Bay is a very shallow lagoon located east of the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan. It is also called Zaliv Kara-Bogaz-Gol, Garabogazköl Gulf, and Garabogazköl Bay and, despite a very narrow connection to the Caspian Sea, the waters are extremely salty. The average salinity of Garabogazköl is about 35 % while the salinity of the Caspian Sea averages 1.2 % and the world’s oceans are between 3-4%. Bright white mineral crusts nearly encircle the Bay, and are especially large on the southeastern corner. These minerals (primarily salt) are extensive enough to support commercial harvesting.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/27/2023
Resolutions:
1km (101.7 KB), 500m (256 KB), 250m (131.2 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Swirls of sediment floated in the Garabogazköl Bay in late June 2023. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired true-color image of the scene on June 27. The turbid waters of the Bay contrast sharply with the uniform deep blue of the Caspian Sea, which can be seen in the west.
Garabogazköl Bay is a very shallow lagoon located east of the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan. It is also called Zaliv Kara-Bogaz-Gol, Garabogazköl Gulf, and Garabogazköl Bay and, despite a very narrow connection to the Caspian Sea, the waters are extremely salty. The average salinity of Garabogazköl is about 35 % while the salinity of the Caspian Sea averages 1.2 % and the world’s oceans are between 3-4%. Bright white mineral crusts nearly encircle the Bay, and are especially large on the southeastern corner. These minerals (primarily salt) are extensive enough to support commercial harvesting.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/27/2023
Resolutions:
1km (101.7 KB), 500m (256 KB), 250m (131.2 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
