.. jAlbum 10 slides/Greenland_Ice_V220120314189rk20B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Greenland at the start of spring. Date: 2012-03-14. RGB: B3B2B0 Greenland at the start of spring. Date: 2012-03-14. RGB: B3B2B0 slides/Greenland_Ice_V220120314189rk20B3B2B0.jpg slides/Italy_Snow_V220120217124_B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Heavy snowfall in Italy. Date:17/02/2012 RGB:B3B2B0 Heavy snowfall in Italy. Date:17/02/2012 RGB:B3B2B0 slides/Italy_Snow_V220120217124_B3B2B0.jpg slides/WAfrica_Coastlines_V22011204082rk97B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 This cloudfree image shows the western coastline of Africa. On this image you can see clearly the border between the desert and the vegetation. This border shilft during the year from North to South. The coastline hosts several mangroves in which live many endangered species. Date: 2011-12-04 RGB: B3B2B0 This cloudfree image shows the western coastline of Africa. On this image you can see clearly the border between the desert and the vegetation. This border shilft during the year from North to South. The coastline hosts several mangroves in which live many endangered species. Date: 2011-12-04 RGB: B3B2B0 slides/WAfrica_Coastlines_V22011204082rk97B3B2B0.jpg slides/WAfrica_Clouds_V220110301251_B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Vortex clouds formed by the Northeasterly trades over the Canary Islands and Madeira. Date : 01-03-2011 RGB : B3B2B0 Vortex clouds formed by the Northeasterly trades over the Canary Islands and Madeira. Date : 01-03-2011 RGB : B3B2B0 slides/WAfrica_Clouds_V220110301251_B3B2B0.jpg slides/Australia_Queensland_floods_V220110104115MIRB3B2proj.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 “Extensive floods in Queensland (Australia) were a result of heavy precipitation caused by Tropical Cyclone Tasha that combined with a peak of a La Niña event. The 2010 La Niña weather pattern, which brings wetter conditions to eastern Australia, is the strongest since 1973. Isolated flooding started across parts of the state in early December. On 24 December a monsoonal trough crossed the coast from the Coral Sea, bringing torrential rain that fell in a broad swath from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Gold Coast. The conditions also led to a large influx of snakes, as well as some crocodiles. By 30 December, vast areas of Southern and Central Queensland, an area the size of Germany and France combined, were affected by the flood. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%932011_Queensland_floods) Date:04-01-2011 RGB:MIR-B3-B2 “Extensive floods in Queensland (Australia) were a result of heavy precipitation caused by Tropical Cyclone Tasha that combined with a peak of a La Niña event. The 2010 La Niña weather pattern, which brings wetter conditions to eastern Australia, is the strongest since 1973. Isolated flooding started across parts of the state in early December. On 24 December a monsoonal trough crossed the coast from the Coral Sea, bringing torrential rain that fell in a broad swath from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Gold Coast. The conditions also led to a large influx of snakes, as well as some crocodiles. By 30 December, vast areas of Southern and Central Queensland, an area the size of Germany and France combined, were affected by the flood. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%932011_Queensland_floods) Date:04-01-2011 RGB:MIR-B3-B2 slides/Australia_Queensland_floods_V220110104115MIRB3B2proj.jpg slides/Angola_Algea_V220101004059B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/Angola_Algea_V220101004059B3B2B0.jpg slides/China_pollution_v220101009240_b3b2b0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 China got enveloped by thick smog and foul air, prompting officials to declare the conditions as “poor” in many places and “hazardous” in some other. The conditions made authorities to ask people to stay indoors to avoid breathing foul air outside. The fog started to accumulate since October 7 and had stayed due to calm weather. (ref: www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/restofasia/32-killed-as-China-suffers-its-worst-pollution-day/Article1-611296.aspx ). The image taken by SPOT-VEGETATION on 9/10/2010 shows the huge extent of the pollution. Date:09/10/2010 RGB:B3B2B0 China got enveloped by thick smog and foul air, prompting officials to declare the conditions as “poor” in many places and “hazardous” in some other. The conditions made authorities to ask people to stay indoors to avoid breathing foul air outside. The fog started to accumulate since October 7 and had stayed due to calm weather. (ref: www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/restofasia/32-killed-as-China-suffers-its-worst-pollution-day/Article1-611296.aspx ). The image taken by SPOT-VEGETATION on 9/10/2010 shows the huge extent of the pollution. Date:09/10/2010 RGB:B3B2B0 slides/China_pollution_v220101009240_b3b2b0.jpg slides/Canada_Plankton_V220100728034B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Phytoplankton in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. These small creatures are very important in the food chain and in the carbon dioxide absorption. The amount of phytoplankton is decreasing due to pollution, global warming and other influences. Date: 28 July 2010 RGB: B3 B2 B0 Phytoplankton in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. These small creatures are very important in the food chain and in the carbon dioxide absorption. The amount of phytoplankton is decreasing due to pollution, global warming and other influences. Date: 28 July 2010 RGB: B3 B2 B0 slides/Canada_Plankton_V220100728034B3B2B0.jpg slides/WAfrica_Clouds_V220100726220B3B2B0proj.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Vortex clouds south of the Canary Islands. West of the islands a rainbow is visible in the clouds. Date: 26 July 2010 RGB: B3 B2 B0 Vortex clouds south of the Canary Islands. West of the islands a rainbow is visible in the clouds. Date: 26 July 2010 RGB: B3 B2 B0 slides/WAfrica_Clouds_V220100726220B3B2B0proj.jpg slides/Aral_Sea_Refilling.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The Aral Sea, once two times the size of Belgium has been shrinking since the 1960’s. In 2007 the size has shrunk to an area half of Belgium. In 2009 the eastern part of the Great Aral Sea even dried out. Satellite photos now show that the eastern part is refilling again. The Aral Sea, once two times the size of Belgium has been shrinking since the 1960’s. In 2007 the size has shrunk to an area half of Belgium. In 2009 the eastern part of the Great Aral Sea even dried out. Satellite photos now show that the eastern part is refilling again. slides/Aral_Sea_Refilling.jpg slides/Borneo-plantations_1999-2009.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 In Malaysian Borneo, land has been cleared progessively to be replace by palm oil plantations or agricultural fields. In 1999 there were only a few plantations visible with the SPOT-VEGETATION sensor, while in 2009 much more cleared land is visible from space. Vegetation appears green, cleared land orange. Dark green vegetation represents native forest (R:MIR G:B3 B:B0). In Malaysian Borneo, land has been cleared progessively to be replace by palm oil plantations or agricultural fields. In 1999 there were only a few plantations visible with the SPOT-VEGETATION sensor, while in 2009 much more cleared land is visible from space. Vegetation appears green, cleared land orange. Dark green vegetation represents native forest (R:MIR G:B3 B:B0). slides/Borneo-plantations_1999-2009.png slides/phytoplankton20100521.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Phytoplankton in the Bay of Biscay (left) and a string of plankton in the North Sea weaving through the Scandinavian region (right) Phytoplankton in the Bay of Biscay (left) and a string of plankton in the North Sea weaving through the Scandinavian region (right) slides/phytoplankton20100521.jpg slides/Australia_lakes_V220100518043B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Large saltlakes in central Australia Date: 18/05/2010 RGB: B3B2B0 Large saltlakes in central Australia Date: 18/05/2010 RGB: B3B2B0 slides/Australia_lakes_V220100518043B3B2B0.jpg slides/Argentina_RioParana_V220100508199B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The Paraná River (Spanish: Río Paraná, Portuguese: Rio Paraná) is a river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some 2,570 kilometers (1,600 miles). This length increases to 3,998 km (2,484 miles) if the distance is counted from the headwaters of the Paranaiba River in Brazil. It is considered second in size only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language and means "like the sea" (that is, "as big as the sea"). Date:08/05/2010 RGB:B3B2B0 The Paraná River (Spanish: Río Paraná, Portuguese: Rio Paraná) is a river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some 2,570 kilometers (1,600 miles). This length increases to 3,998 km (2,484 miles) if the distance is counted from the headwaters of the Paranaiba River in Brazil. It is considered second in size only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language and means "like the sea" (that is, "as big as the sea"). Date:08/05/2010 RGB:B3B2B0 slides/Argentina_RioParana_V220100508199B3B2B0.jpg slides/Bahamas_reefs_V220100506123B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The Bahamas are surrounded with warm, blue water full of beautiful tropical reefs, giving this spectacular image. Date:06/05/2010 RGB:B3B2B0 The Bahamas are surrounded with warm, blue water full of beautiful tropical reefs, giving this spectacular image. Date:06/05/2010 RGB:B3B2B0 slides/Bahamas_reefs_V220100506123B3B2B0.jpg slides/New-Foundland_Ice_V220100420092B3B2B0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/New-Foundland_Ice_V220100420092B3B2B0.jpg slides/eclips29march2006_v220060329049b3b2b0.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The Takla Makan desert of Central Asia in China, is one of the world's largest sandy wastes, occupying an area of 272,000 square km in the central Tarim Basin. The desert is flanked by high mountain ranges including the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west. Almost the entire region is devoid of plant cover. Date : 30/10/2000 RGB : B3B2B0 The Takla Makan desert of Central Asia in China, is one of the world's largest sandy wastes, occupying an area of 272,000 square km in the central Tarim Basin. The desert is flanked by high mountain ranges including the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west. Almost the entire region is devoid of plant cover. Date : 30/10/2000 RGB : B3B2B0 slides/eclips29march2006_v220060329049b3b2b0.jpg slides/i31_31102000_taklamakan.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The Takla Makan desert of Central Asia in China, is one of the world's largest sandy wastes, occupying an area of 272,000 square km in the central Tarim Basin. The desert is flanked by high mountain ranges including the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west. Almost the entire region is devoid of plant cover. Date : 30/10/2000 RGB : B3B2B0 The Takla Makan desert of Central Asia in China, is one of the world's largest sandy wastes, occupying an area of 272,000 square km in the central Tarim Basin. The desert is flanked by high mountain ranges including the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west. Almost the entire region is devoid of plant cover. Date : 30/10/2000 RGB : B3B2B0 slides/i31_31102000_taklamakan.jpg slides/i49_s15112001_greatsaltlake.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 This VEGETATION image of 15/11/2001 shows the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This lake undergoes a drastic change in color at the railway causeway (21-mile-long - runs east-west across the middle of the lake), caused by a difference in salinity.The rocky berm provides a shortcut for trains traversing the nation, but also acts like a dam that divides the lake into two distinct sections. Water to the north of the causeway has become so salty that brine shrimp no longer can survive there, while salinity levels on the south side have dipped below the level favored by tiny crustaceans. Date:15/11/2001 RGB:B3B2B0 This VEGETATION image of 15/11/2001 shows the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This lake undergoes a drastic change in color at the railway causeway (21-mile-long - runs east-west across the middle of the lake), caused by a difference in salinity.The rocky berm provides a shortcut for trains traversing the nation, but also acts like a dam that divides the lake into two distinct sections. Water to the north of the causeway has become so salty that brine shrimp no longer can survive there, while salinity levels on the south side have dipped below the level favored by tiny crustaceans. Date:15/11/2001 RGB:B3B2B0 slides/i49_s15112001_greatsaltlake.jpg slides/i49_s15112001_greatsaltlake_merge.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 This VEGETATION image of 15/11/2001 shows the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This lake undergoes a drastic change in color at the railway causeway (21-mile-long - runs east-west across the middle of the lake), caused by a difference in salinity.The rocky berm provides a shortcut for trains traversing the nation, but also acts like a dam that divides the lake into two distinct sections. Water to the north of the causeway has become so salty that brine shrimp no longer can survive there, while salinity levels on the south side have dipped below the level favored by tiny crustaceans. Date:15/11/2001 RGB:B3B2B0 This VEGETATION image of 15/11/2001 shows the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This lake undergoes a drastic change in color at the railway causeway (21-mile-long - runs east-west across the middle of the lake), caused by a difference in salinity.The rocky berm provides a shortcut for trains traversing the nation, but also acts like a dam that divides the lake into two distinct sections. Water to the north of the causeway has become so salty that brine shrimp no longer can survive there, while salinity levels on the south side have dipped below the level favored by tiny crustaceans. Date:15/11/2001 RGB:B3B2B0 slides/i49_s15112001_greatsaltlake_merge.jpg slides/i73_s25022003_maldives.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The Republic of Maldives is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean and consists of about 1200 coral islands. These small islands are on the outside of the 19 atolls and are sheltered by reefs against the swell of the ocean. Date:25/02/2003 RGB:b3b2b0 The Republic of Maldives is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean and consists of about 1200 coral islands. These small islands are on the outside of the 19 atolls and are sheltered by reefs against the swell of the ocean. Date:25/02/2003 RGB:b3b2b0 slides/i73_s25022003_maldives.jpg slides/i76_s18052003_australia_large_straight_cloud.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The Gulf of Carpentaria Region is well-known for the frequent occurence of long cloud lines. These include the so-called "North Australian Cloud Line" (NACL), a line of convective clouds sometimes stretching 500km across the Gulf, and "The Morning Glory" phenomenon, a propagating wave-cloud, or series of such clouds, which sometimes forms the soutern extension of the NACL. Northeasterly morning glories and the NACL appear to form along a convergence line that originates from the sea breeze circulations that form over the peninsula, while most southerly morning glories appear to originate from cold fronts that cross central Australia. Date: 18/05/2003 RGB: B3B2B0 The Gulf of Carpentaria Region is well-known for the frequent occurence of long cloud lines. These include the so-called "North Australian Cloud Line" (NACL), a line of convective clouds sometimes stretching 500km across the Gulf, and "The Morning Glory" phenomenon, a propagating wave-cloud, or series of such clouds, which sometimes forms the soutern extension of the NACL. Northeasterly morning glories and the NACL appear to form along a convergence line that originates from the sea breeze circulations that form over the peninsula, while most southerly morning glories appear to originate from cold fronts that cross central Australia. Date: 18/05/2003 RGB: B3B2B0 slides/i76_s18052003_australia_large_straight_cloud.jpg slides/i85_05092003_secheresse_august.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The effects of the drought on vegetation beginning July and August 2003 is clearly visible on the two images below. The images represent the variation of the vegetation index of the summer of 2003 compared to the summer of 2002. The bleu coloured zones on the map represent a vegetation condition in 2003 similar to the one in 2002. Spain appears in blue as 2003 was as dry as 2002. Also villages appear in blue as their VEGETATION cover is very sparse. Above all the dryness affects the South Western part of France, the Central Massive and the Northern part of Italy. This can be linked to several factors: the turning yellow or early fall of the leaves, early harvesting, forest fires. In the red colour on the image of August we remark the fires of the Var region and Corsica. We can also note the increase of drought in August. Finally one can approach these images as well from the maps who show the deficit in precipitation during the first semester (source: Bulletin de Situation Hydrogolique”). The deficit of water influences particularly half the South of France, excluded the Languedoc-Roussillon region, which is also visible on this “vegetation-dryness-map”. The images, with a 1km resolution originate from the VEGETATION2 instrument and are processed by VITO and treated at CNES (QTIS) Date:05 09 2003 The effects of the drought on vegetation beginning July and August 2003 is clearly visible on the two images below. The images represent the variation of the vegetation index of the summer of 2003 compared to the summer of 2002. The bleu coloured zones on the map represent a vegetation condition in 2003 similar to the one in 2002. Spain appears in blue as 2003 was as dry as 2002. Also villages appear in blue as their VEGETATION cover is very sparse. Above all the dryness affects the South Western part of France, the Central Massive and the Northern part of Italy. This can be linked to several factors: the turning yellow or early fall of the leaves, early harvesting, forest fires. In the red colour on the image of August we remark the fires of the Var region and Corsica. We can also note the increase of drought in August. Finally one can approach these images as well from the maps who show the deficit in precipitation during the first semester (source: Bulletin de Situation Hydrogolique”). The deficit of water influences particularly half the South of France, excluded the Languedoc-Roussillon region, which is also visible on this “vegetation-dryness-map”. The images, with a 1km resolution originate from the VEGETATION2 instrument and are processed by VITO and treated at CNES (QTIS) Date:05 09 2003 slides/i85_05092003_secheresse_august.png slides/i85_05092003_secheresse_july.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The effects of the drought on vegetation beginning July and August 2003 is clearly visible on the two images below. The images represent the variation of the vegetation index of the summer of 2003 compared to the summer of 2002. The bleu coloured zones on the map represent a vegetation condition in 2003 similar to the one in 2002. Spain appears in blue as 2003 was as dry as 2002. Also villages appear in blue as their VEGETATION cover is very sparse. Above all the dryness affects the South Western part of France, the Central Massive and the Northern part of Italy. This can be linked to several factors: the turning yellow or early fall of the leaves, early harvesting, forest fires. In the red colour on the image of August we remark the fires of the Var region and Corsica. We can also note the increase of drought in August. Finally one can approach these images as well from the maps who show the deficit in precipitation during the first semester (source: Bulletin de Situation Hydrogolique”). The deficit of water influences particularly half the South of France, excluded the Languedoc-Roussillon region, which is also visible on this “vegetation-dryness-map”. The images, with a 1km resolution originate from the VEGETATION2 instrument and are processed by VITO and treated at CNES (QTIS) Date:05 09 2003 The effects of the drought on vegetation beginning July and August 2003 is clearly visible on the two images below. The images represent the variation of the vegetation index of the summer of 2003 compared to the summer of 2002. The bleu coloured zones on the map represent a vegetation condition in 2003 similar to the one in 2002. Spain appears in blue as 2003 was as dry as 2002. Also villages appear in blue as their VEGETATION cover is very sparse. Above all the dryness affects the South Western part of France, the Central Massive and the Northern part of Italy. This can be linked to several factors: the turning yellow or early fall of the leaves, early harvesting, forest fires. In the red colour on the image of August we remark the fires of the Var region and Corsica. We can also note the increase of drought in August. Finally one can approach these images as well from the maps who show the deficit in precipitation during the first semester (source: Bulletin de Situation Hydrogolique”). The deficit of water influences particularly half the South of France, excluded the Languedoc-Roussillon region, which is also visible on this “vegetation-dryness-map”. The images, with a 1km resolution originate from the VEGETATION2 instrument and are processed by VITO and treated at CNES (QTIS) Date:05 09 2003 slides/i85_05092003_secheresse_july.png slides/i97_s20050330_SunshineReflectionsSomalia.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The sun reflects in the ocean near Somalia. Date: 30 March 2005 RGB: B3 B2 B0 The sun reflects in the ocean near Somalia. Date: 30 March 2005 RGB: B3 B2 B0 slides/i97_s20050330_SunshineReflectionsSomalia.jpg slides/i98_s09072005_aridity_june2005.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The heat wave of mid June (West Europe) caused some aridity in South West France and in Spain. In Norway and the Alps the snow melted largely. Date: 09 July 2005 RGB: MIR B3 B0 The heat wave of mid June (West Europe) caused some aridity in South West France and in Spain. In Norway and the Alps the snow melted largely. Date: 09 July 2005 RGB: MIR B3 B0 slides/i98_s09072005_aridity_june2005.jpg slides/i106_s29032006_EclipseSahara.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 On Wednesday, 2006 March 29, a total eclipse of the Sun was visible from within a narrow corridor which traverses half the Earth, SAHARA is shown in this image. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow began in Brazil and extended across the Atlantic, northern Africa, and central Asia where it ended at sunset in western Mongolia. A partial eclipse was seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which included the northern two thirds of Africa, Europe, and central Asia. Date: 29/03/2006 RGB: B3B2B0 On Wednesday, 2006 March 29, a total eclipse of the Sun was visible from within a narrow corridor which traverses half the Earth, SAHARA is shown in this image. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow began in Brazil and extended across the Atlantic, northern Africa, and central Asia where it ended at sunset in western Mongolia. A partial eclipse was seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which included the northern two thirds of Africa, Europe, and central Asia. Date: 29/03/2006 RGB: B3B2B0 slides/i106_s29032006_EclipseSahara.jpg slides/i112_s20080107_phytoplankton.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 A flush of blue and green lit the waters at the mouth of the Amazon river in Brazil as a phytoplankton bloom grew and faded in the South Atlantic Ocean. Date: 07/01/2008 RGB: B2-B3-B0 A flush of blue and green lit the waters at the mouth of the Amazon river in Brazil as a phytoplankton bloom grew and faded in the South Atlantic Ocean. Date: 07/01/2008 RGB: B2-B3-B0 slides/i112_s20080107_phytoplankton.jpg slides/i114_sFlood Zambezi.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Residents in the Kariba area say they recorded a 2.2 metre rise in the level of the 5,200-sq-km lake from mid-December to mid- January after the highest rainfall since records started in 1890. The Kariba gate has been opened to reduce the lake level to accommodate the expected heavy inflow and to prevent 'structural damage' to the dam wall. The level of the Zambezi River downstream of Kariba Dam has been swollen by torrential rainsand by the opening of the dam's floodgates. Date: 12-02-2008 RGB:B3 B2 B0 Residents in the Kariba area say they recorded a 2.2 metre rise in the level of the 5,200-sq-km lake from mid-December to mid- January after the highest rainfall since records started in 1890. The Kariba gate has been opened to reduce the lake level to accommodate the expected heavy inflow and to prevent 'structural damage' to the dam wall. The level of the Zambezi River downstream of Kariba Dam has been swollen by torrential rainsand by the opening of the dam's floodgates. Date: 12-02-2008 RGB:B3 B2 B0 slides/i114_sFlood Zambezi.jpg slides/i119_sIllinois_Floods.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Heavy rains in early June 2008 soaked the U.S. Midwest, leaving swollen rivers in their wake. On the image taken on the 10th of June, the swollen rivers can be clearly seen. The image of the 21st of May shows the normal situation of the rivers. These images use shortwave, near infrared and visible light to enhance the contrast between land and water. In these images, vegetation appears bright green, bare ground looks brown, clouds look blue-white, and water appears dark blue. The Embarras, Wabash, White, and East Fork White Rivers are all swollen from the heavy rains. Date: 08-06-2008 RGB:MIR-B3-B0 Heavy rains in early June 2008 soaked the U.S. Midwest, leaving swollen rivers in their wake. On the image taken on the 10th of June, the swollen rivers can be clearly seen. The image of the 21st of May shows the normal situation of the rivers. These images use shortwave, near infrared and visible light to enhance the contrast between land and water. In these images, vegetation appears bright green, bare ground looks brown, clouds look blue-white, and water appears dark blue. The Embarras, Wabash, White, and East Fork White Rivers are all swollen from the heavy rains. Date: 08-06-2008 RGB:MIR-B3-B0 slides/i119_sIllinois_Floods.jpg slides/i130_s15112008_Rainbow.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 A rainbow near the coast of Peru (South America), captured by the VEGETATION instrument on board of SPOT5. Date : 15-11-2008 RGB : B3 B2 B0 A rainbow near the coast of Peru (South America), captured by the VEGETATION instrument on board of SPOT5. Date : 15-11-2008 RGB : B3 B2 B0 slides/i130_s15112008_Rainbow.jpg slides/i135_s03022009_Winterstorm.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 The winter storm in the beginning of February, caused problems across Western Europe. South-east England saw the worst snow for 18 years. However, not only in the UK snow fell, France did not escape this storm either. On the image the track of the storm is still visible. The snow can be clearly distinguished from the clouds in the false colour image, where it appears turquoise. Date: 02/03/2009 RGB:MIRB3B0 The winter storm in the beginning of February, caused problems across Western Europe. South-east England saw the worst snow for 18 years. However, not only in the UK snow fell, France did not escape this storm either. On the image the track of the storm is still visible. The snow can be clearly distinguished from the clouds in the false colour image, where it appears turquoise. Date: 02/03/2009 RGB:MIRB3B0 slides/i135_s03022009_Winterstorm.jpg slides/i136_sMorocco_Snow.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 A blanket of snow covered large parts of western Europe on Monday after some of the heaviest falls in two decades. Snow flurries brought chaos to parts of Paris and Spain, while three people died in Italy amid adverse weather conditions as the snow reached northern Morocco. Date: 05/02/2009 RGB : B3B2B0 A blanket of snow covered large parts of western Europe on Monday after some of the heaviest falls in two decades. Snow flurries brought chaos to parts of Paris and Spain, while three people died in Italy amid adverse weather conditions as the snow reached northern Morocco. Date: 05/02/2009 RGB : B3B2B0 slides/i136_sMorocco_Snow.jpg slides/i139_s04022009_LebanonSnow.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 A snow storm swept Lebanon from north to south and covered all but the coastal areas with snow . Snow has blanketed areas as low as 600 meters above sea level. Date: 04/02/2009 RGB : B3B2B0 A snow storm swept Lebanon from north to south and covered all but the coastal areas with snow . Snow has blanketed areas as low as 600 meters above sea level. Date: 04/02/2009 RGB : B3B2B0 slides/i139_s04022009_LebanonSnow.jpg slides/i146_090310_Corsica_snow.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Some of the mountain peaks are still snow-capped and offer an amazing contrast with the seaside. Date: 10/03/2009 RGB : B3B2B0 Some of the mountain peaks are still snow-capped and offer an amazing contrast with the seaside. Date: 10/03/2009 RGB : B3B2B0 slides/i146_090310_Corsica_snow.jpg slides/i172_Tibet_Mountains_V220090928117.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/i172_Tibet_Mountains_V220090928117.jpg slides/i178_Alaska_Snow_V220090928136.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/i178_Alaska_Snow_V220090928136.jpg slides/i179_Afghanistan_mountains_V220090928118.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/i179_Afghanistan_mountains_V220090928118.jpg slides/i184_toshka-lakes.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 Toshka Lakes is the name given to recently formed endorheic lakes in the Sahara Desert of Egypt. These lakes are a sort of side-effect of the Aswan High Dam. The Aswan High Dam, constructed in Egypt in 1964-1968, created Lake Nasser. In 1978 Egypt began building the Sadat Canal NW from Lake Nasser through Wadi Toshka to allow water levels higher than 178 m to be drained off into a depression at the south end of the Eocene limestone plateau. In the late 1990s, water began flowing through the Sadat Canal into the Western Desert. The new lakes, called Toshka lakes, appeared in November 1998, when water spilled northwestward toward the Tushka depression due to an unusual water rise in Lake Nasser induced by high precipitation in the Ethiopian Highlands. Five lakes were formed in local depressions. The lakes developed through three stages: -> (1) A rise stage occured from September 1998 to August 2001; the area covered by the lakes reached 1586 km2. In this stage the rate of water supply far exceeded the rate of water loss through evaporation. -> (2) A steady-state stage occurred from August 2001 to August 2003, during which the area covered by the lakes remained relatively unchanged and water lost through evaporation was continuously replaced by water supply from Lake Nasser. -> (3) A demise stage occurred from August 2003 to April 2007, during which water supply from Lake Nasser stopped completely and water was continuously evaporating. If this trend continues, the New Lakes of Sahara will disappear completely by March 2011. (Source: wikipedia and Earth Observatory NASA) RGB:MIR B3 B0 Toshka Lakes is the name given to recently formed endorheic lakes in the Sahara Desert of Egypt. These lakes are a sort of side-effect of the Aswan High Dam. The Aswan High Dam, constructed in Egypt in 1964-1968, created Lake Nasser. In 1978 Egypt began building the Sadat Canal NW from Lake Nasser through Wadi Toshka to allow water levels higher than 178 m to be drained off into a depression at the south end of the Eocene limestone plateau. In the late 1990s, water began flowing through the Sadat Canal into the Western Desert. The new lakes, called Toshka lakes, appeared in November 1998, when water spilled northwestward toward the Tushka depression due to an unusual water rise in Lake Nasser induced by high precipitation in the Ethiopian Highlands. Five lakes were formed in local depressions. The lakes developed through three stages: -> (1) A rise stage occured from September 1998 to August 2001; the area covered by the lakes reached 1586 km2. In this stage the rate of water supply far exceeded the rate of water loss through evaporation. -> (2) A steady-state stage occurred from August 2001 to August 2003, during which the area covered by the lakes remained relatively unchanged and water lost through evaporation was continuously replaced by water supply from Lake Nasser. -> (3) A demise stage occurred from August 2003 to April 2007, during which water supply from Lake Nasser stopped completely and water was continuously evaporating. If this trend continues, the New Lakes of Sahara will disappear completely by March 2011. (Source: wikipedia and Earth Observatory NASA) RGB:MIR B3 B0 slides/i184_toshka-lakes.png slides/phytoplankton.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/phytoplankton.jpg slides/sp10jan2001_copyright.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/sp10jan2001_copyright.jpg slides/i20_21031999_10day.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/i20_21031999_10day.jpg slides/i22_31031999_world.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/i22_31031999_world.jpg slides/i22bis_31031999_world.html# Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:47 +0200 slides/i22bis_31031999_world.jpg