September 27, 2020 - Madagascar

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   Madagascar
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   Stunning sienna and umbers dominate the dry-season landscape of
   southern Madagascar. The Moderate Resolution Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
   on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of the
   region on September 25.

   In southwestern Madagascar the dominant climate is dry and desert-like.
   Even the wet season (November to April) brings little rain. Here plants
   have adapted to the unique, dry, sandstone-rich biome so completely
   that many are unlike any others on Earth. Many species sport small
   leaves and spines which allow them to retain water extremely well, much
   like succulents that are at home in deserts. Yet many also have tall
   trunks, giving them more the appearance of trees. The Madagascar Spiny
   Thicket is vulnerable to damage from human activity and at risk for
   deforestation.

   In sharp contrast, the southeastern coast of Madagascar receives
   substantially more rainfall, giving rise to green forests, also filled
   with unique flora and fauna. In this image, the rain forest lies under
   a light cover of “popcorn” cloud – a type of cloud that commonly forms
   over moist, green forest.

   Image Facts
   Satellite:  Aqua
   Date Acquired: 9/25/2020
   Resolutions:  1km (257.7 KB),  500m (257.7 KB),  250m (797.6
   KB)
   Bands Used: 1,4,3
   Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2020-09-27
 
