Earth from Space - Image Information


LOCATION Direction Photo #: ISS007-E-13002 Date: Aug. 2003
Geographic Region: USA-UTAH
Feature: GREAT SALT LAKE, WASATCH RANGE


IMAGE
 
Effect of Drought on Great Salt Lake:
Great Salt Lake serves as a striking visual marker for astronauts orbiting over North America. A sharp line across its center is caused by the restriction in water flow from the railroad causeway. The eye-catching colors of the lake stem from the fact that Great Salt Lake is hypersaline, typically 3-5 times saltier than the ocean, and the high salinities support sets of plants and animals that affect the light-absorbing qualities of the water. North of the causeway salinities are higher, and the water turns red from the pigments of halophilic bacteria. In the shallower corners of the lake, earthen dikes mark large salt evaporation works, which take on the jewel tones of turquoise, russet, amber, and pearl white.

The detailed image (ISS005-E-16729) shows some of the salt works operated by Great Salt Lake Minerals and Chemicals Corporation near West Warren, Utah, on the eastern shore of the lake. Evaporative salt harvesting at Great Salt Lake is an important source of minerals for industrial uses. The lake contains an estimated 5 billion tons of salt, with 2.5 million additional tons washing in each year. Extraction rates are slightly higher than the amount added to the lake each year. In addition to sodium chloride, the ponds near West Warren are used to extract potassium sulfate and magnesium chloride, which are used to make fertilizers.

Space Station astronauts have recorded the decline in lake levels in response to a regional 5-year drought taking both detailed views and broad views of the entire lake (this image and ISS002-707-87). As lake levels have declined the salt works have become islands in the middle of a dry lakebed. Seasonal fluctuations in Great Salt Lake produce annual lows every fall, but there are significant longer-term fluctuations in lake levels relating to the climate. Great Salt Lake hit a 22-year low at 4,198 feet in the fall of 2002, and a near-record low again in October 2003. The lowest level ever recorded was 4,191 feet in 1963, and the highest levels were 4,212 feet in June 1986 and April 1987. Experimental scientific forecasts predict that lake levels will begin gradually increasing again, but the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook indicates only limited improvement from this snow season because the water deficits are so high.

Around the world, lake levels are an excellent indicator of local climate. Repeat observations over time allow comparisons and levels rise and fall in response to droughts and the broader climate patterns that are linked to droughts.

Less-detailed images of the decline in the Great Salt Lake as seen from Terra satellite's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor were previously shown on Earth Observatory.

Space Station images of Salt Lake City were also previously featured on Earth Observatory.


Images: All Available Images Low-Resolution 72k
Mission: ISS007  
Roll - Frame: E - 13002
Geographical Name: USA-UTAH  
Features: GREAT SALT LAKE, WASATCH RANGE  
Center Lat x Lon: 41.0N x 112.5W
Film Exposure:   N=Normal exposure, U=Under exposed, O=Over exposed, F=out of Focus
Percentage of Cloud Cover-CLDP: 10
 
Camera:: E4
 
Camera Tilt: 27   LO=Low Oblique, HO=High Oblique, NV=Near Vertical
Camera Focal Length: 50  
 
Nadir to Photo Center Direction: SW   The direction from the nadir to the center point, N=North, S=South, E=East, W=West
Stereo?:   Y=Yes there is an adjacent picture of the same area, N=No there isn't
Orbit Number: 3092  
 
Date: 20030819   YYYYMMDD
Time: 163701   GMT HHMMSS
Nadir Lat: 42.0N  
Latitude of suborbital point of spacecraft
Nadir Lon: 111.1W  
Longitude of suborbital point of spacecraft
Sun Azimuth: 115   Clockwise angle in degrees from north to the sun measured at the nadir point
Space Craft Altitude: 204   nautical miles
Sun Elevation: 43   Angle in degrees between the horizon and the sun, measured at the nadir point
Land Views:  
Water Views: LAKE  
Atmosphere Views: DUST  
Man Made Views:  
City Views: SALT LAKE CITY  

Photo is not associated with any sequences


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