Blizzard 2009: East Coast Snowstorm As Seen From Space (PHOTO) digg Share this o

[Jenna Bluehut]

Blizzard 2009: East Coast Snowstorm As Seen From Space (PHOTO)

First Posted: 12-21-09 03:26 PM   |   Updated: 12-21-09 04:51 PM

*See photo below*

NASA's Earth Observatory has released a photo showing the blizzard that recently slammed the Eastern U.S. as seen from space.

The record-breaking snow storm dumped over a foot of snow in Washington D.C., over 16 inches in Philadelphia, and set new records for the most snow to fall in a single December day.

The Earth Observatory explains how the image, shown below, was captured:

    The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite captured this view of the Chesapeake Bay region as the clouds were clearing on December 20. The snow highlights the course of the Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers from the Appalachian Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay.

Wired maps out what's pictured in the NASA photo:

    The image covers 300 miles lengthwise. The two big rivers near the center are the Susquehanna (to the north) and Potomac rivers, which run into Chesapeake Bay. Washington, D.C., sits alongside the Potomac, just north of the river's hook-shaped curve. The inlet to the north is Delaware Bay.

[Jenna Bluehut]