MODIS Rapid Response

Smoke from Wildfires in Southern Chile
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Smoke from Wildfires in Southern Chile

Smoke from a wildfire in southern Chile was moving over the Atlantic Ocean when the Terra satellite captured this image on March 29, 2015.

Published Mar 30, 2015

Atmosphere Fires

Cyclone Nathan over Cape York Peninsula
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Cyclone Nathan over Cape York Peninsula

At the time of this image, Nathan was passing over Cape York peninsula.

Published Mar 20, 2015

Atmosphere Severe Storms

Ice on the Great Lakes
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Ice on the Great Lakes

The extent of ice on North America's Great Lakes is past its annual peak, but remains above the average maximum extent.

Published Mar 18, 2015

Water Snow and Ice Sea and Lake Ice

Cyclone Nathan
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Cyclone Nathan

At the time of this image, the strengthening storm was headed for northeastern Queensland.

Published Mar 17, 2015

Atmosphere Severe Storms

Fire in Northeast India
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Fire in Northeast India

Fires blaze in Mizoram, a state in Northeast India that engages in slash and burn agriculture prior to the monsoon.

Published Mar 16, 2015

Land Fires

Cyclones Thrash Vanuatu and Western Australia
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Cyclones Thrash Vanuatu and Western Australia

On the same day tropical cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu, Olwyn made landfall in Western Australia.

Published Mar 14, 2015

Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Severe Storms

Thick Dust Plumes Obscure Africa’s Coast
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Thick Dust Plumes Obscure Africa’s Coast

An extensive dust storm in late February carried debris over the Atlantic Ocean, en route to the Amazon Basin.

Published Mar 4, 2015

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Wildfire in Southern Argentina
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Wildfire in Southern Argentina

A wildfire in southern Argentina threatened ancient forests in Los Alerces National Park.

Published Mar 2, 2015

Land Fires

A Plume Advances Over Shiveluch
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A Plume Advances Over Shiveluch

Ash from one of Kamchatka’s most active volcanoes headed toward Alaska.

Published Mar 2, 2015

Land Volcanoes

Hydrogen Sulfide Eruption Along the Coast of Namibia
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Hydrogen Sulfide Eruption Along the Coast of Namibia

Bacteria near the seafloor consume organic matter and produce prodigious amounts of gas that rises to the surface.

Published Feb 20, 2015

Water Remote Sensing Water Color

Another Blizzard Piles Up the Snow in New England
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Another Blizzard Piles Up the Snow in New England

The snowpack near Boston is greater than in all but two reported locations in Alaska.

Published Feb 18, 2015

Image of the Day Atmosphere Snow and Ice

Snow Blankets Ranges in Southwestern Europe
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Snow Blankets Ranges in Southwestern Europe

In February 2015, snow blanketed mountain ranges in southwestern Europe.

Published Feb 11, 2015

Land Severe Storms Human Presence Snow and Ice

Contrails in the North Atlantic
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Contrails in the North Atlantic

Aircraft flying above the clouds leave behind thin lines of condensation.

Published Feb 9, 2015

Atmosphere Unique Imagery Human Presence

Bushfires Menace Towns in Western Australia
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Bushfires Menace Towns in Western Australia

The Terra satellite observed two large bushfires in Western Australia. One of them threatened the towns of Northcliffe and Windy Harbour.

Published Feb 6, 2015

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Fires

Bushfire in Southwestern Australia
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Bushfire in Southwestern Australia

A vigorous bushfire threatened homes in Western Australia in February 2015.

Published Feb 2, 2015

Land Fires

Flooding in Mozambique
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Flooding in Mozambique

In January 2015, heavy rains triggered destructive flooding in coastal Mozambique.

Published Jan 24, 2015

Image of the Day Water Floods

Dust Storm off West Africa
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Dust Storm off West Africa

The MODIS instrument on Terra caught a glimpse of airborne sand and dust heading out over the ocean.

Published Jan 15, 2015

Atmosphere Dust and Haze

Wildfires in Central Chile
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Wildfires in Central Chile

In January 2015, a large wildfire burned in central Chile.

Published Jan 14, 2015

Atmosphere Land Fires

Cloud Streets over the Black Sea
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Cloud Streets over the Black Sea

The Aqua satellite captured this image of cloud streets over the Black Sea in January 2015.

Published Jan 9, 2015

Atmosphere Unique Imagery

Adelaide Hills Bushfire
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Adelaide Hills Bushfire

In January 2015, intense bushfires in the Adelaide Hills charred thousands of hectares and destroyed several homes.

Published Jan 5, 2015

Land Fires

Undersea Eruption Near Tonga
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Undersea Eruption Near Tonga

Hunga Ha'apai began stirring up the Pacific Ocean in late December 2014.

Published Jan 3, 2015

Image of the Day Heat Water Volcanoes

Snow in Great Britain
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Snow in Great Britain

A storm brings high winds and snow to England and Wales.

Published Dec 31, 2014

Severe Storms Snow and Ice

Oil Fire in Libya
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Oil Fire in Libya

An oil fire in As Sidr sent thick plumes of smoke drifting across the Mediterranean Sea in December 2014.

Published Dec 31, 2014

Atmosphere Fires Human Presence

Haze in Southwest China
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Haze in Southwest China

Haze, clouds, and fog mingled in China’s Sichuan Basin on December 24, 2014.

Published Dec 26, 2014

Atmosphere Dust and Haze

Supercool Clouds
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Supercool Clouds

Hole-punch and canal clouds form when aircraft pass through altocumulus clouds that are rich with supercooled water droplets.

Published Dec 20, 2014

Image of the Day Atmosphere Unique Imagery

An Iceberg Without a Name
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An Iceberg Without a Name

An unnamed berg of unknown origin drifted in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Published Dec 14, 2014

Image of the Day Water Snow and Ice Sea and Lake Ice

Flooding in Southern Luzon
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Flooding in Southern Luzon

In December 2014, floodwater swamped parts of The Philippines in the wake of typhoon Hagupit.

Published Dec 10, 2014

Water Floods

Haze in the Kashmir Valley
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Haze in the Kashmir Valley

Topography sculpted by an ancient lake makes it easier for air pollution to accumulate in the Kashmir Valley.

Published Dec 10, 2014

Image of the Day Atmosphere Dust and Haze

Typhoon Hagupit
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Typhoon Hagupit

In early December 2014, the Philippines braced for one of the most potent tropical storms of the year.

Published Dec 6, 2014

Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Severe Storms

Mount Aso Ash Plume
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Mount Aso Ash Plume

The Aqua satellite acquired this image of ash blowing southeast from Mount Aso on November 29, 2014.

Published Dec 3, 2014

Atmosphere Volcanoes