X

Images: Spying the seasons from space

NASA releases striking images showing how Earth changes through the seasons.
By Bill Detwiler, Contributor
21554.jpg
1 of 4 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Fall

As part of NASA's ongoing series of "Blue Marble" images of the Earth from space, the agency has released this collection of images. Dubbed "Blue Marble: Next Generation," the series shows the cloud-free planet as it moves through the four seasons.

This image shows Earth in the Northern Hemisphere's fall season, with southeast Asia still green from the summer monsoons, and leaves in the northeastern United States and Canada turning brownish-red.

21555.jpg
2 of 4 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Winter

In winter, much of the Northern Hemisphere is covered in snow. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream keep the eastern U.S. and western Europe warmer and relatively free of snow.

Each of the four seasonal images is culled together from thousands of pictures taken with NASA's Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, satellite. The images were compiled at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

21556.jpg
3 of 4 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Spring

As spring comes, snow in the Northern Hemisphere recedes, and forests in the eastern part of South America get heavier rains, turning most of the continent to a rich green color. Even when much of the Southern Hemisphere is lush, Australia remains dry through spring and most of the year.

21557.jpg
4 of 4 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Summer

Snowlines in Asia, Alaska and western Canada have almost completely receded in summer. The band of green on the African continent moves north, though the Sahara Desert remains dry--as it does throughout the year.

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos