Special Display
This display shows areas of reduced surface water (yellow) during the severe drought of 2012.
Shown in dark blue is the current maximum extent (June 19-July 19, 2012) of surface water as imaged by the two MODIS sensors aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, and as compared to one year earlier.
Water areas are accumulated over one month in this version of the Observatory's Surface Water Record-Drought displays. This removes obscuration by cloud cover and ensures complete coverage.
In 2011, flooding was underway along some regional river valleys, such as the Missouri, but in 2012, many rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands are much reduced in size.
Known errors: cloud shadows are in some cases mapped as surface water. We are working to reduce such noise.
Map by G. R. Brakenridge, University of Colorado, Dartmouth Flood Observatory.
