Earth  ID: 11141

The Four Seasons

Story by Adam P. Voiland Released on November 29, 2012
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Explore from space the seasons of Lake Tahoe.
It's no secret that the 23.5 degree tilt of Earth's axis causes the amount of sunlight that reaches the planet's surface to change throughout the year, producing the familiar pattern of spring, summer, fall and winter. A sharp variation in seasons can be seen particularly in places around or within the mid-latitudes, where the amount of sunlight received ranges widely depending on the time of year. Located at about 39 degrees north of the equator, Lake Tahoe, a nature lover's playground on the California-Nevada border, gets a hearty taste of all four seasons. Viewed from space, the seasons paint the landscape in passing shades of green, brown and white. Watch the transformation in the time-lapse video of images captured by NASA's Earth Observing-1 satellite between August 2009 and September 2010.
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Notice how snow cover, vegetation and lake color all change with the seasons.
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In fall, bare mountains dominate the landscape after spring and summer's explosion of green has faded.
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One of the most obvious signs of winter in Lake Tahoe is the thick layer of snow that blankets the region and its world-class ski resorts.
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In spring, dormant streams awaken and dark sediments pour into the lake.
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During the height of summer, direct sunlight illuminates the mountaintops and valley floors around the lake.

For More Information

NASA Earth Observatory

Story Credits

Visualizer/Animator:
Robert Simmon (Sigma Space Corporation)

Lead Writer:
Adam P. Voiland (Sigma Space Corporation)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA Earth Observatory

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11141

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Earth