Start Date: End Date: Published Date Data Date
Data acquired July 1, 2004 1200 x 1000 309 KB Bytes - JPEG
Data acquired July 1, 2004 2400 x 2000 1 MB Bytes - JPEG
Data acquired July 1, 2004 4800 x 4000 3 MB Bytes - JPEG
On July 1, 2004, Spain (roughly the right-most three-quarters of the peninsula) and Portugal (left-hand quarter) were in the midst of a blistering heat wave that cost several people their lives. When the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured this image (13:35 UTC, or 2:35 p.m. local time in Lisbon, Portugal) cool, sheltering clouds hugged only the northern coastline, while the rest of the country baked in the Sun.
The surface temperature image shows temperature observations collected by MODIS that scientists have color-coded in shades of pink (coldest temperatures) to blackish-red (highest temperatures). Deep reds dominate the country, especially around the central part of the border between the two countries, where land surface temperatures reach a scorching 59 degrees Celsius (138 degrees Fahrenheit). According to news reports, air temperatures were above 40 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit), and energy demand for air conditioning and refrigeration had caused power blackouts in places.
The natural color version of the image shows Spain in light tan, marbled with green vegetation. A few fires have been marked with red dots.
Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC
Published July 9, 2004 Data acquired July 1, 2004