Images related to Seasons of Snow Cover in the West

Great Basin Geology
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Great Basin Geology

Published Feb 27, 2008

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Southern Sierra Nevada and Owens Lake
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Southern Sierra Nevada and Owens Lake

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station looked obliquely down at the steep eastern flank of California’s Sierra Nevada. Even from space the topography is impressive. The range drops nearly 11,000 feet from Mt. Whitney (under cloud, arrow), the highest mountain in the lower 48 states (14,494 ft), to the floor of Owens Valley (the elevation of the town of Lone Pine is 3,760 ft). The Sierra Nevada landscape is well known for deep, glacially scoured valleys, like Kern Canyon west of Mt. Whitney.

Published Mar 9, 2003

Image of the Day Land

Walker Lake, Nevada
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Walker Lake, Nevada

In western Nevada, one of only two remnants of ancient, glacial Lake Lahontan is sandwiched between mountain ridges.

Published Aug 20, 2012

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ISS View of the Southwestern USA
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ISS View of the Southwestern USA

This panoramic view of the southwestern USA and Pacific Ocean was taken by an astronaut looking out at an angle from the International Space Station

Published Oct 4, 2010

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Winter Arrives in the Sierra Nevada
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Winter Arrives in the Sierra Nevada

As November 2018 came to a close, mountain areas saw their first significant snowfall of the season.

Published Dec 3, 2018

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms

Diminished Snow Pack in the Sierra Nevada
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Diminished Snow Pack in the Sierra Nevada

Snow cover in late March 2015 was significantly lower than the previous worst year on record. The landscape change is stark since 2010, the last time the region saw average snowfall.

Published Apr 3, 2015

Image of the Day Water Drought Snow and Ice

Sierra Nevada Snowpack in a Wet Year, Dry Year
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Sierra Nevada Snowpack in a Wet Year, Dry Year

Seasonal snowpack in the Sierra Nevada depends on whether a winter is wet or dry, and 2015 shaped up to be exceptionally dry.

Published Oct 21, 2015

Image of the Day Land Water Snow and Ice