As states across the US are considering relaxing coronavirus-related lockdown measures, the fiery landscape of southern California is showing its true “superbloom” colors – and now the sweeping desert landscape been captured in its flame-like glory by satellites deployed by NASA’s Space Observatory. The space agency’s Operational Land Imager captured the orange-hued poppy blooms on April 14 in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve , located near the tip of the Mojave Desert, when the area was thought to be at or near its peak. Made by incorporating Landsat data from the US Geological Survey , the images show the gridded landscape northwest of Palmdale, California as if set ablaze by wildflowers. “The flowers bloomed after Southern California received significant rainfall in March and April 2020. This spring, Lancaster received around 10.5 inches (27 centimeters) of rain—almost 4 inches (10 centimeters) above normal,” wrote NASA. “The extra rain may cause the poppies to stick around longer than usual and result in an above-average wildflower year. Park officials called this bloom an “unexpected” surprise due to the late-season rains.” NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey As its name suggests, the Antelope […]
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