Aral Sea (false color)

  • Credit

    Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

This false-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image taken on July 24, 2003 clearly shows the changing shoreline of the Aral Sea. Located in southern Kazakhstan and northern Uzbekistan, the Sea has been steadily shrinking as water is diverted from the rivers that feed it. A web of green to the south of the sea shows agricultural development. Water in this image is inky blue, vegetation is bright green, clouds are light blue, and the bare earth of the surrounding desert is pinkish tan.

Metadata

  • Sensor

    Terra/MODIS

  • Visualization Date

    2003-08-30