Start Date: End Date: Published Date Data Date
Data acquired June 12 - 12, 2002 500 x 650 92 KB - JPEG
Data acquired June 12 - 12, 2002 1000 x 1300 320 KB - JPEG
Data acquired June 12 - 12, 2002 2000 x 2600 879 KB - JPEG
On May 22, 2002, Svalbard, Norway, tucked inside the Arctic Circle, was showing no signs of spring on land, while in the Barents Sea, ice had begun retreating from the western coastline. This series of images shows the thawing of the sea ice around Svalbard, and also shows snow retreating from the landscape. Patches of brown are showing through, especially along fjords and inlets. Some images show blooms of marine plants called phytoplankton, which create colorful blue and green patterns on the ocean surface.
Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC
Published June 20, 2002 Data acquired June 12 - 12, 2002