Satellite images – Recap 2019
Taking a look back at a few of the satellite images of 2019
Just like last year and the year before I will again recap this year with a selection of the more beautiful or interesting satellite images I processed.
The selection is rather big this year, but there were many good and interesting satellite images to choose from. Aside from this selection, you can find all my images in full resolution here on my Flickr.
So let’s get started: You can click each image to enlarge it somewhat for a quick view, however, the full-resolution and quality images are available for download at the Flickr-link provided in each image description in case you want to use the image somewhere and I encourage you to use those, as they look much better in most cases.
Image 1, 2, and 3 – The Shiveluch Volcano in Kamchatka, Russia
The Shiveluch Volcano in Kamchatka, Russia was quite photogenic this year, every now and then showing ash plumes and ash trails. Flickr: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3
Image 4 – Wildfire near Lake Echo, Australia
Here we have an image of a wildfire near Lake Echo in Australia. The image is a combination of natural colors and infrared. You can read more about how to process wildfire images here in this article. Flickr link.
Image 5 – A very cold Chicago, Illinois
This image is showing Lake Michigan and Chicago during a cold weather period at the end of January 2019. Flickr link.
Image 6 – Lake Michigan and Lake Huron with some lake-effect snow to the east, USA, Canada
This Sentinel-3 image is showing a wonderful example of lake-effect snow at Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in January 2019. Flickr link.
Image 7 – Floods in Queensland, Northern Australia
Floods hit Queensland, Australia, in January and February 2019. These images compare the situation before and during the floods. Flickr link.
Image 8 – Snowy Pyrenees, France, Spain, Andorra
Quite a beautiful view of the Pyrenees with snow cover in February 2019. Flickr link.
Image 9 – Parts of the Dolomites and Lake Garda, Italy – 3d view
Visible here are parts of the Dolomites and Lake Garda, Italy, in a 3d view made using a digital elevation model which has a Sentinel-2 image draped over it. The image also tried to go for a natural look, reintroducing atmospheric effects. Flickr link.
Image 10, 11 – Close-up view of iceberg A68 disintegrating in the central part, Weddell Sea, Antarctica
The upper close-up view of the massive iceberg A68 shows, that it is disintegrating in its central part, Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Flickr link.
The second image is a SAR image of the whole iceberg. Flickr link.
Image 12 – Sakurajima Volcano (桜島), Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
The Sakurajima Volcano (桜島), in the Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, showed some activity again and again in 2019, and can be seen in an image from February here. Flickr link.
Image 13 – Viedma Glacier, Lake Viedma, Southern Patagonian Ice Field, Chile, Argentina 3d view
A 3d view of the Viedma Glacier, Lake Viedma, Southern Patagonian Ice Field, in Chile. Created by combining Copernicus Sentinel data with ASTER GDEM data. While processed in 2019, the image data is from 2017. Flickr link.
The animation is showing the retreat of the Viedma Glacier during the last 6 years.
Image 14 – Poppies on the hills north of Corona Freeway near Lake Elsinore, California, USA
A beautiful image of poppies blooming on the hills north of Corona Freeway near Lake Elsinore, California, USA. Flickr link.
Image 15 – Mozambique floods caused by tropical cyclone Idai comparison before (March 2nd) and after (March 20th)
The enormous Mozambique floods caused by tropical cyclone Idai in comparison view. Before image (March 2nd) and after image (March 20th). Flickr link.
Image 16 – Central Pyrenees, Spain, France 3d view
The Central Pyrenees mountain range, Spain, France 3d view. Created by combining Copernicus Sentinel data with ASTER GDEM data. Flickr link.
Image 17 – Anak Krakatau, Indonesia
The Anak Krakatau Volcano in Indonesia was showing some activity this year after a large underwater collapse which caused a deadly tsunami in December 2018. Flickr link.
Image 18 – Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico
Some activity of the Popocatépetl Volcano in Mexico. Flickr link.
Image 19 – Algae bloom in the Northern Caspian Sea
A quite colorful and very visible algae bloom in the Northern Caspian Sea. Flickr link.
Image 20 – Southern United Kingdom and the Channel
A rare almost cloud-free view of the Southern United Kingdom and the Channel as seen by Sentinel-3. Flickr link.
Image 21 – Pyrocumulus clouds at the HWF042 wildfire near High Level, Alberta, Canada
Visible here are developing Pyrocumulus clouds at the HWF042 wildfire near High Level, Alberta, Canada. Flickr link.
Image 22 – Wildfires near Batagay, Verkhoyansky District, Sakha Republic, Russia
2019 was a very active wildfire season in Siberia, as seen here with big wildfires near Batagay, Verkhoyansky District, Sakha Republic, Russia. Flickr link.
Image 23, 24 – Raikoke Volcano ash cloud, Kuril Islands, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
Two beautiful views of a Raikoke Volcano ash cloud, Kuril Islands, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia. Flickr links here and here.
Image 25, 26 – Multiple wildfires north of the Arctic Circle, Sakha Republic, Russia and possible wildfire ash on Laptev sea ice west of Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, Russia
Multiple wildfires north of the Arctic Circle, Sakha Republic, Russia. Flickr link.
Possible wildfire ash on Laptev sea ice west of Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, Russia. Flickr link.
Image 27 – Resolute Bay (Qausuittuq), Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada
Resolute Bay (Qausuittuq), Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. Flickr link.
Image 28 – Swan Lake Fire, 5 miles northeast of Sterling, Alaska, USA
The Swan Lake Fire, 5 miles northeast of Sterling, Alaska, USA, with smoke filling the nearby valleys. Flickr link.
Image 29 – Wildfire near the Yukon River, Alaska, USA
A wildfire near the Yukon River, Alaska, USA. Flickr link.
Image 30 – Maniitsoq Ice Cap (Sukkertoppen) top left corner (partly), Tasersiap Sermia (ice cap in the top left quadrant) and the Marjorqaq Glacier (center image), Greenland
The Maniitsoq Ice Cap (Sukkertoppen) top left corner (partly), Tasersiap Sermia (ice cap in the top left quadrant) and the Marjorqaq Glacier (center image), Greenland. Flickr link.
Image 31 – Lots of smoke from wildfires over Alaska, USA
Lots of smoke from wildfires over Alaska, USA. Flickr link.
Image 32, 33, 34 – Wildfire in the Qeqqata Kommunia, Greenland
Following the 2017 wildfire, there was again a wildfire in Greenland in 2019. Wildfire in the Qeqqata Kommunia, Greenland. Flickr link.
Wildfire in the Qeqqata Kommunia, Greenland. Flickr link.
Area of the July/August 2019 Greenland wildfire after the fire. Flickr link.
Image 35 – Wildfires at about 66°N near the Lena River, Sakha Republic, Russia
Wildfires at about 66°N near the Lena River, Sakha Republic, Russia. Flickr link.
Image 36 – Ubinas Volcano eruption with big ash plume, Moquegua Region, Peru
Ubinas Volcano eruption with big ash plume, Moquegua Region, Peru. Flickr link.
Image 37 – Several wildfires between about 57°N and 70°N in Krasnoyarsk Krai and Sakha Republic, Russia
Several wildfires between about 57°N and 70°N in Krasnoyarsk Krai and Sakha Republic, Russia. Flickr link.
Image 38 – Smoke plumes from countless wildfires reaching 4,000 kilometers from Irkutsk Oblast to Bering Sea, Russia
Smoke plumes from countless wildfires reaching 4,000 kilometers from Irkutsk Oblast to Bering Sea, Russia. Flickr link.
Image 39 – Melt ponds in western Greenland, active 2019 wildfire, and 2017 wildfire burn scar, Greenland – August 1st, 2019
Melt ponds in western Greenland, active 2019 wildfire, and 2017 wildfire burn scar, Greenland – August 1st, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 40, 41, 42 – Typhoon Lekima and Typhoon Krosa, West Pacific
Typhoon Lekima and Typhoon Krosa, West Pacific – August 8th and 9th, 2019. Flickr link here and here and here.
Image 43 – Wildfire in the Sakha Republic at about 71°N, Siberia, Russia – August 12th
One of the many arctic wildfires this year, a wildfire in the Sakha Republic at about 71°N, Siberia, Russia – August 12th. Flickr link.
Image 44 – Wildfire on Gran Canaria, Spain – August 19th, 2019
Wildfire on Gran Canaria, Spain – August 19th, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 45, 46 – Hurricane Dorian East of the Bahamas and Florida, USA – August 30th, 2019
Hurricane Dorian East of the Bahamas and Florida, USA – August 30th, 2019. Flickr link.
Hurricane Dorian reaching the Bahamas on its track to Florida, USA – September 1st, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 47, 48 – Grand Bahama Island before and after Hurricane Dorian – August 5th, 2019 and Grand Bahama Island after Hurricane Dorian – September 4th, 2019
Grand Bahama Island before and after Hurricane Dorian – August 5th, 2019 and Grand Bahama Island after Hurricane Dorian – September 4th, 2019. Flickr link here and here.
Image 49 – Bushfire in the north of New South Wales about 180 kilometers SSW of Brisbane, Australia – September 7th, 2019
One of the many bushfires in New South Wales in this bushfire season. Located about 180 kilometers SSW of Brisbane, Australia – September 7th, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 50, 51 – Metis Shoal Volcano eruption, Tonga – October 15th, 2019
Metis Shoal Volcano eruption, Tonga – October 15th, 2019. Flickr link.
Metis Shoal Volcano eruption, Tonga, with added IR overlay – October 20th, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 52 – Mount Etna Volcano, Sicily, Italy – October 22nd, 2019
A little activity of the Mount Etna Volcano in Sicily, Italy – October 22nd, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 53 – Parts of the Sabiti oil tanker oil spill NW of Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia, with ships crossing the spill area – October 22nd, 2019
A SAR image of parts of the Sabiti oil tanker oil spill NW of Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia, with ships crossing the spill area – October 22nd, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 54 – Kincade Fire, Sonoma County, California, USA – October 27th, 2019
The Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, California, USA – October 27th, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 55 – Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica – November 4th, 2019
The Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica; still hanging on in this image. – November 4th, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 56 – Typhoon Halong, Pacific Ocean – November 4th, 2019
Typhoon Halong, Pacific Ocean – November 4th, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 57, 58 – Mount Erebus Volcano, Antarctica – November 9th, 2019
Two beautiful images of the Mount Erebus Volcano, Antarctica – November 9th, 2019. Flickr link here and here.
Image 59 – Bushfire NW of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia – November 13th, 2019
Bushfire NW of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia – November 13th, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 60 – Mount Shishaldin Volcano lava flow, Alaska, USA – December 26th, 2019
Mount Shishaldin Volcano lava flow, Alaska, USA – December 26th, 2019. Flickr link.
Image 61 – Mount Etna Volcano 3D rotation showing lava flows, based on a Sentinel-2 image from July 27th, 2019
A few more words
In case you would like to see even more images, you can find them here on my Flickr. I would also like to thank all of you who shared my satellite images on Twitter (Not yet following me on Twitter? Change it here) or other social media in 2019 and those who gave me ideas, advice, or feedback.
Wanna give it a try yourself?
If you would like to give satellite imagery a try yourself, the EO Browser made by Sentinel Hub is a good place to start and get quick results.
I would also like to remind you of the Sentinel Hub Custom Script Contest, which is still running another two weeks. More information on that here.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank Sentinel Hub for their continuous support. I’d also like to thank the Copernicus Programme as well as NASA, the USGS, and NOAA. Without them, there would not be that much open data to explore and process.
Journalists and Media
If you want to reuse images, take a look here for more information, and please use the full-size versions from Flickr. You might also want to read this article, talking about satellite image use in media and giving you some tips on where to find good satellite images.
Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data [2017, 2019]
Landsat 8 data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
Suomi NPP VIIRS and Aqua/Terra MODIS data through NASA Worldview
ASTER GDEM is a product of METI and NASA
