Fall colors in Northeast United States

Throughout October, the onset of fall’s lower temperatures have painted the trees of the northwestern United States in shades of rust, orange, and brown. In the center of this true-color image, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on October 28, 2004, the Appalachian Mountains curve through the center of Pennsylvania and up into New York and the New England states. In the lower elevations, the land is pale green and tan, while overhead bright white clouds create stark contrast. Lake Erie, on the left edge of the image, swirls with clouds of tan and aqua sediment, and Lake Ontario to the northeast remains the dark blue of clear water.

At the beginning of October, the transition to autumn was only just beginning. On October 7, only the most northern sections of the United States and southern Canada were ablaze with color. The Appalachian remained green.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published November 2, 2004
Data acquired October 28, 2004

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response