Images
March 12, 2020 - Snow in Afghanistan
Follow @NASA_MODIS
Tweet
Bright-white snow blanketed the Hindu Kush mountain range in early March, 2020, creating a stunning contrast to the tan colors of the arid lowlands. This section of the Hindu Kush sits primarily in Afghanistan, but the range also straddles the borders between Pakistan and India.
Snow and glaciers are ever-present in these mountains, especially in the highest elevations. Winter snowpack is important to the region, providing water for agriculture and other human needs as it melts in the spring and summer. In years with heavy snowpack, spring melt may also trigger floods.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image on March 4. The rippled sand dunes of Afghanistan’s Registan Desert can be seen southwest of the snow-capped mountains.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 3/4/2020
Resolutions:
1km (409.4 KB), 500m (1.1 MB), 250m (2.3 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Bright-white snow blanketed the Hindu Kush mountain range in early March, 2020, creating a stunning contrast to the tan colors of the arid lowlands. This section of the Hindu Kush sits primarily in Afghanistan, but the range also straddles the borders between Pakistan and India. Snow and glaciers are ever-present in these mountains, especially in the highest elevations. Winter snowpack is important to the region, providing water for agriculture and other human needs as it melts in the spring and summer. In years with heavy snowpack, spring melt may also trigger floods.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image on March 4. The rippled sand dunes of Afghanistan’s Registan Desert can be seen southwest of the snow-capped mountains.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 3/4/2020
Resolutions:
1km (409.4 KB), 500m (1.1 MB), 250m (2.3 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
