Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy are featured in this image, acquired January 23, 2010 by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite. Nova Scotia, a Canadian province, is the long peninsula that runs diagonally across the image. Snow covers the ground.

The Bay of Fundy is on the western side of the island. Note the reddish coloration near the northern coastline of the Bay. In this image, much of the red coloring is in the sub-bays - Chignecto Bay is the one to the north. Minas Basin and its eastern portion, the Cobequid Bay, make up the more southern inlet of the two you see here.

The color of the water is due to sediment caused by tides. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world - the water can rise and fall as much as 50 feet each day! During each tidal cycle, huge quantities of fine sediments are brought in to flood the coastal area. Much of the sediment remains in the sheltered areas along the coast, forming the famous red mudflats of the upper Bay. Learn more about the Bay of Fundy.

Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC Click to enlarge.


Today's Weather Activity

Welcome to JetStream, the National Weather Service Online Weather School. This site is designed to help educators, emergency managers, or anyone interested in learning about weather and weather safety.

The information contained in JetStream is arranged by subject; beginning with global and large scale weather patterns followed by lessons on air masses, wind patterns, cloud formations, thunderstorms, lightning, hail, damaging winds, tornados, tropical storms, cyclones and flooding. Interspersed in JetStream are "Learning Lessons" which can be used to enhance the educational experience.

You are free to use the materials in any manner you wish. We welcome your feedback on this project. Your input will greatly assist others in teaching the "hows" and "whys" of weather. Not sure where to begin? Click to see all topics in JetStream in the Topic Matrix. Contact Us:

Steven Cooper Steven.Cooper@noaa.gov
Deputy Regional Director, NWS Southern Region Headquarters, Fort Worth, Texas

Dennis Cain Dennis.Cain@noaa.gov
a.k.a. "Professor Weather", NWS Fort Worth, Texas