Pollution in Eastern China

These true- and false-color images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite show thick air pollution (true-color) in eastern China. On January 13, 2003, the false-color iamgery reveals flooding as well. The muddy flood waters blend in with the fading vegetation of the winter landscape and are further obscured by air pollution in the true-color image, but in the false-color image, standing water appears bright blue or black against the green vegetation. Notice how the pollution tends to “pool” up around mountainous terrain in the higher resolution version of this scene.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published January 13, 2003
Data acquired January 13 - 13, 2003

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Topics:

Atmosphere > Air Quality > Emissions

Atmosphere > Air Quality > Smog

Hydrosphere > Surface Water > Floods

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response