Hudson Bay 05/18/01

MODIS image of the North Pole

MODIS bands 1,4,3 RGB true color image of Hudson Bay on the 18th of May 2001.

Relatively warm, sediment-laden river water flows into the southwestern part of Hudson Bay on May 18, 2001. The sediment on the sea ice (and the relative warmth of the water) accelerates melting of sea ice in Hudson Bay because the darker ice absorbs more solar radiation.

Image courtesy of Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center