Bering Strait

Although the landscapes of Alaska (right) and Russia (left) were covered in snow, the sea ice in the Bering Strait between them appears to be breaking up and receding slightly in this MODIS image from April 22, 2002. The coastal waters of southwestern Alaska are showing dark swirls that could be a mixture of sediment and phytoplankton.

This series of images from late April to early May shows the thawing of the Bering Strait between Siberia (left) and Alaska’s Seward Peninsula (right). To the north is the Chukchi Sea. The series also shows the retreat of winter snow cover from Alaska.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published June 12, 2002
Data acquired June 4 - 4, 2002

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Topics:

Biosphere > Microbiota > Phytoplankton

Biosphere > Vegetation > Biomass

Biosphere > Vegetation > Phytoplankton

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response