October 15, 2020 - Springtime Snow in the Andes

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   Chile and Argentina
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   On October 13, 2020, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
   (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of
   snow capping the Central Andes of Chile and Argentina. The border
   between the two countries courses the peaks of the rugged mountain
   range with Chile in the west and Argentina in the east.

   Springtime in the Central Andes, like spring in most places, is a time
   of increasing warmth, lengthening sunshine, change, and rebirth.
   Wildflowers begin to bloom, birds take flight in migration that may
   carry them thousands of miles to breeding grounds, and soon various
   mammals, including a llama-like species known as guanaco, begin to give
   birth.

   The longer days and increasing temperatures also begin to melt the
   winter’s snowfall. Not all of the snow will melt, as many of the higher
   peaks retain glaciers and snow year-round. Snowpack that accumulates in
   the mountains is the primary source of water for communities at lower
   altitudes. The water is used for city water supplies, power generation,
   and agriculture.

   Snowpack is particularly critical for the more arid regions of east of
   the tall Andean peaks. Several large reservoirs can be seen in the
   southeast section of the image (lower right). Sitting in Neuquén
   Province, Argentina, these large impoundments collect water from rivers
   that begin in the high Andes Mountains. Water from the Neuquén River
   fills the pair of round lakes, the Los Barreales Reservoir (west) and
   the Mari Menuco Reservoir, as well as Pelligrini Lake (east). The Limay
   River contributes to the long Ezekiel Ramos Mexia Reservoir in the
   south. The source of the Limay, Nahuel Huapi Lake, sits about 2,500
   feet (760 meters) above sea level, while the streams that ultimately
   form the Neuquén River begin at about 7,500 feet (2,300 meters) above
   sea level.

   Image Facts
   Satellite:  Aqua
   Date Acquired: 10/13/2020
   Resolutions:  1km (45.1 KB),  500m (157.4 KB),  250m (481.9
   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=2020-10-15
 
