Flooding Arkansas River Imaged by NASA’s Aqua Satellite
FORT SMITH, Ariz., May 27 (UPI) — Much of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas have been overwhelmed by precipitation in recent days. And more rain is on the way. Though the devastation is hard to spot from 440 miles above the Earth’s surface, the swollen Arkansas River is had to miss.
Recently, NASA’s Aqua satellite — an Earth observation satellite tasked with studying precipitation, evaporation and the planet’s water cycles — spotted the flooded river gushing through Oklahoma and Arkansas.
A new image published Wednesday by NASA shows the Arkansas River, the Mississippi’s second-longest tributary, fat and a blue in contrast with the bright green land. In several places the river bulges, its water invading portions of the flood plain.
When compared with an image from a few weeks ago, it’s easy to see where the banks of the Arkansas River were unable to contain its expanding load.
With record amounts of rain falling throughout much of the Deep South over the last week, the Arkansas River isn’t alone in its engorged state. Many of the region’s rivers, lakes and streams are filled to the brim. Many have overflowed, causing damaging floods that have claimed the lives of eight people. Another 12 are reported missing.
