Vis sat over AR/MS/LA area

[Jeff Snyder]

The following is a current (~1830 utc 4/29/10) vis sat image of the lower Mississippi River valley area:

Obviously, we see Cu in the deeper moisture along the northwestern Gulf coast, and some scattered clouds across southern MO. However, there is a ground-based white area across eastern AR and adjacent portions of surrounding states. I think we've discussed this on here in a previous year, but I can't seem to remember. Is it cotton?

EDIT: The Google Maps terrain imagery from this area (SEE HERE) shows that the bright area on vis sat is nearly collocated with the low-vegetation area (lightest green), so I assume it's related to agriculture...

 

[Scott Weberpal]

EDIT: The Google Maps terrain imagery from this area (SEE HERE) shows that the bright area on vis sat is nearly collocated with the low-vegetation area (lightest green), so I assume it's related to agriculture...

Yes. Northeast Louisiana, eastern Arkansas, and western Missisippi are very flat, treeless and agriculture intensive.

Take a peek at Street View and you'll see what I mean...

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p...noid=Qe1bryqc9w5qhriWoyRbAw&cbp=12,38.15,,0,5

 

[E Hale]

I'm pretty sure that the white areas along the mississippi are just the very clearly defined and marked agricultural fields along the flood plain. It's the reflectivity of sunlight on the ground (some cotton) but mostly just an absence of trees. You can see the densely vegetated lines of the Arkansas and the White river and their branches of tributaries in eastern AR.

 

[GPhillips]

It's evident every year, but this year it seems to stand out even more than usual. A difference in weather that affected the agriculture, or a difference in GOES-13 this year vs. GOES-12 last year?

 

[Jeff Snyder]

Thanks for the comments. I guess maybe it's just bare ground or green veg, but there's lot of bare ground in OK/KS/TX too and those areas aren't nearly as bright as the E AR area. Is cotton or rice a dominant crop there? It must be something that is considerably reflective, even if it's made more distinct as a result of the contrast with the forest / widespread trees in the surrounding areas.

 

[David Goines]

This map might be from 1999, but it may be of some use....
I have to say, this map jives really well with the visible sat.

Also, this may be a part of it to. Though I'm not sure how the soil composition would matter with reflection, but who knows?

 

[Joshua Nall]

I suppose most fields are bare dirt right now, probably have been tilled since it's been dry enough to. Most crops have not yet been planted or they contain seedlings or small plants. I don't think cotton or rice have been planted yet. There are different color soils and I don't remember the soils in that area being especially dark. On the other hand, some soil in TX is black. The Red River flood plain in SE AR and then running down into LA appears about the same just a lot smaller. I've spent a ton of time along the Red River considering it is a short drive. Another thing to mention is the trees have just put out new leaves so all the trees are lush and green, more contrast this time of year than any other.


Josh

 

[Wes Carter]

The area you are talking about seems to perfectly correspond to the Mississippi Embayment, which is basically the extended flood plain of the Mississippi River. You can also see it on topo maps, where it is much easier to see:

There is a thread on here that talks about this area a bit: http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19064&highlight=embayment