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    Terra Nova Bay Polynya, Antarctica : Image of the Day [Image 1 of 2]

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    Terra Nova Bay Polynya, Antarctica : Image of the Day

    WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES

    07.10.2011

    Courtesy Photo

    NASA

    In Terra Nova Bay, off the Scott Coast of Victoria Land, Antarctica, a large pocket of open water persists throughout most of the Southern Hemisphere winter, even while most of the rest of the Antarctic coastline is firmly embraced by the frozen Southern Ocean. This pocket of open water--a --results from exceptionally strong winds that blow downslope from the Trans-Antarctic Mountains. These fierce winds drive the sea ice eastward. Since the dominant ice drift pattern in the area is northward, the Drygalski Ice Tongue prevents the bay from being re-populated with sea ice.

    This image of the Terra Nova Bay polynya was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer modis.gsfc.nasa.gov (MODIS) on NASA's aqua.nasa.gov Aqua satellite on October 16, 2007. Sea ice sits over the Ross Sea like a cracked and crumbling windshield. Blue-tinged glaciers flow down from the Trans-Antarctic Mountains. Although glaciers can appear blue because of melt water, they can also get that tint when the wind scours and polishes the ice surface. Given the strength of the katabatic winds along this part of the Antarctic coast, it is likely that the blue color of these glaciers is a result of their having been swept clean of snow.

    The large image provided above has a spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?RossSea/ twice-daily images of the region in additional resolutions and formats, including a false-color version that enhances the contrast between ice and clouds.



    NASA Identifier: ge_08134

    IMAGE INFO

    Date Taken: 07.10.2011
    Date Posted: 02.08.2013 02:25
    Photo ID: 832282
    Resolution: 2800x3600
    Size: 1.26 MB
    Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., US

    Web Views: 17
    Downloads: 2

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