• MODIS Pic of the Day 02 May 2022

    From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Monday, May 02, 2022 12:00:58
    May 2, 2022 - Barotse Floodplain

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    Barotse Floodplain
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    The vast Barotse Floodplain sits in the upper Zambezi River Basin in
    the Western Province of Zambia, South Africa. Spanning more than 2,123
    square miles (5,500 square km), the large slightly undulating grassy
    plains are inundated every year, thanks to the vigorous rainy season of
    the region. The rains typically peak around January to February, but it
    usually takes about three months for the rivers to overflow and
    completely cover the basin with water. The flood usually peaks in April
    and waters begin to withdraw from May to July, leaving behind enriched,
    fertile soil that serves as feeding grounds for wild animals and birds,
    as well as provides excellent agricultural land for the people who live
    near the basin.

    The ebb and flow of the river plays an important role in the life of
    the Lozi people who have lived in the region for centuries. During the
    dry season, the Lozi traditionally cultivate and live on large areas of
    the floodplain. However, the Barotse Floodplain becomes uninhabitable
    for humans during the floods. Each April, according to long tradition,
    the Lozi people participate in the Kuomboka ceremony, celebrating the
    moving of the king of the Lozi to from Lealui, his home in the Barotse
    Floodplain to Limulunga, his home on higher ground. This movement is
    accompanied by drums, traditional boats painted black and white and
    adorned by a large elephant statue, colorful hats, and great fanfare.
    The return trip to Lealui is usually in August, and that journey is
    called the Kufuluhela. The Kuomboka ceremony was reinstated in April
    2022, after a hiatus of three years—the first due to a dry year without
    adequate flooding, then the next two due to the COVID pandemic.

    On April 29, 2022, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
    (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image on
    April 29, 2022. The Barotse Floodplain is fully inundated at this time,
    and the various rivers and tributaries of the region also appear quite
    full.

    Image Facts
    Satellite: Aqua
    Date Acquired: 4/29/2022
    Resolutions: 1km (145.7 KB), 500m (406.1 KB), 250m (1.1 MB)
    Bands Used: 1,4,3
    Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



    https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2022-05-02

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