NASA MODIS Image of the Day: April 14, 2008 – Floods in the U.S. Midwest
Water levels on the Mississippi River were still high when the MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image on April 7, 2008.
Meandering across relatively flat land, the Mississippi has a wide flood plain.
The bulges and swells in the river seen in this image represent moderate or minor flooding, according to gauge measurements reported by the National Weather Service. If you move your mouse over the image, you will see the Mississippi before spring rains caused widespread flooding in March. This image was captured by the MODIS on the Terra satellite on February 19, 2008. A comparison of the two images reveals that many of the rivers and creeks that flow into the Mississippi were running high. Regular floods on the Mississippi River deposited fertile soil across the flood plain. Bright flecks of green line the river where the deep, rich soil of the flood plain now supports extensive agriculture. The crops are a brighter shade of green than the native vegetation, and land that has little growing on it is tan. Clouds are pale blue in the combination of infrared and visible light used to make these images.
