This display is updated daily using a MODIS Near Real Time global surface water product generated at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center. Current open water (blue) and lake ice cover (purple) conditions are shown.
Several important qualifications apply: 1) In order to fill between clouds, "current" water data are actually an accumulation of MODIS data, at 250 m spatial resolution, over a two week period. 2) The display updates each day with new data; the 14 day accumulation period moves forward one day. 3) Open water imaged any time within the preceding two weeks is shown in the map as open water. 4) Heavy cloud cover over the Great Lakes during winter in this region greatly constrain imaging of open water. Thus, many areas shown as ice-covered within the Lakes may be open water, but obscured.
Please send comments and input to RobertdotBrakenridgeatColoradodotedu
Citation: Brakenridge, G. R., 2014, MODIS Great Lakes and Central North America Ice Cover, Draft January 21, 2014, http://floodobservatory.colorado.edu/GreatLakes.html.
A Geotif version can be published for incorporation into GIS, on request.
