Earth from House: Frozen borders

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 picture captures the borders between North and South Dakota and Minnesota blanketed with snow and ice.

Zoom in to discover this picture at its full 10 m decision or click on on the circles to study extra.

This space is a part of the Purple River Valley, probably the most fertile river valleys on the earth. That is clearly seen within the picture, the place the left aspect is dominated by an unlimited expanse of agricultural fields. Their geometric patterns might be seen in shades of brown, or white the place they’re  blanketed with snow.

Agriculture, which incorporates soybeans, corn, wheat and sugar beets, performs a key function within the native financial system.

Shaped by the confluence of the Bois de Sioux River from the south and the Otter Tail River from the west, the winding course of the Purple River of the North might be seen in white throughout the picture. The river flows for over 700 km northwards, marking the border between North Dakota (left) and Minnesota (proper).

Seen in white the place the 2 rivers meet, the dual cities of Wahpeton, North Dakota, and Breckenridge, Minnesota, lie on reverse sides of the Purple River of the North. Wahpeton is simply 75 km south of Fargo, making this snowy territory acquainted to followers of the Fargo movie and sequence.

On the correct, the picture incorporates a mix of agricultural fields, wetlands and small lakes, that look like absolutely or partially frozen. The biggest characteristic right here is the Otter Tail Lake, protecting about 55 sq km.

Sentinel-2 delivers imagery and knowledge wanted for Europe’s environmental Copernicus programme. Knowledge are used for a variety of purposes, together with monitoring land use and modifications, land administration, agriculture, forestry and pure disasters (floods, forest fires, landslides and erosion).