December 11, 2000

SeaWiFS Captures Lake Effect Snow

NASA's SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View) sensor caught the
lake-effect snows that were pounding the Great Lake region yesterday and
continue to do so. The snow is clearly blowing eastward off of Lakes
Superior and Michigan with up to a foot of new snow reported.

Lake-effect snow occurs when cold dry air passes over a larger warmer lake
and picks up moisture and heat. Clouds build overhead and eventually
develop into snow showers as they move downwind. The image was enhanced and
rendered at Goddard.

For more on the SeaWiFs project, go to:
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/IMAGES/NEW/Canada/