September 28, 2020 - Appalachian Mountains

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   Appalachian Mountains
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   On September 21, 2020, the Moderate Resolution Imaging
   Spectroradiometer (MODIS) acquired a true-color image of the closing of
   summer over the Appalachian Mountains.

   The broad arc of the ridge-and-valley structure of the Appalachian
   Mountains curves from the southwest to the northeast, stretching
   approximately 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from the state of Alabama, USA to
   Newfoundland, Canada. Although a relatively low mountain chain, the
   Appalachians are one of the oldest mount chains in the world. The rocks
   that form these ridges are estimated to be 300 to 540 million years
   old.

   This image captures only a small part of the southern part of the
   Appalachians as they sweep through the states of Alabama, Georgia,
   South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The deep greens
   primarily mark forests of deciduous trees intermingled with spruce and
   fir, which are abundant in the lower elevations and foothills,
   especially in the eastern section of the Appalachians, which is also
   known as the Blue Ridge Mountains. The highest peaks rise above the
   timberline, where tall trees are replaced by shorter, sparser
   vegetation.

   Gray pixels mark the handiwork of humans – roads and cities. The large
   city of Atlanta, Georgia sits near the southern border of the image,
   expanding from the center much like a spider web. Moving to the
   northeast, the city of Greenville, South Carolina is visible.
   Asheville, North Carolina can be seen north and slightly west of
   Greenville.

   Image Facts
   Satellite:  Terra
   Date Acquired: 9/21/2020
   Resolutions:  1km (50.1 KB),  500m (202.8 KB),  250m (675.7
   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=2020-09-28
 
