How to use the MODIS Rapid Response website

The MODIS Rapid Response website that we are linked to at the bottom right corner of our Ice Reports page is an incredible tool. That said it takes some tinkering to make it work: here's how:
When the MODIS home page appears on your screen, scroll down the page to the map of the world in the section titled SUBSETS and CLICK on it.

When the SUBSETS page appears, scroll down the page and CLICK on North America.

When the page with the MAPS of North America appear, look at the the one titled FAS Subsets and Click inside the red rectangle showing the Great Lakes.

When the NASA Earth Data - USA3 page appears use the image on the left marked True Color and click on pixel size 250M(eters) and wait for it to load.(This is a huge file)

Today's date will be shown above the picture. If you want to go back a few days to images from when the weather was clear and cloud free click on the Previous button and wait. A calendar will appear, then Click on the date you would like to see images from and wait.

When the image from space appears it will begin at the upper left hand corner(somewhere in Minnesota) of the image, so you will have to scroll to the east (right) to get to the Great
Lakes, and then down (when you see the east side of Lake Superior) until you see our area.

In the winter Snow covered lakes will be white, ice will be gray, the most clear ice will be dark gray, and open water will appear to be black. This is quite a tool!

This websites images have a very large amount of data and can take quite a while to load - be patient - this is a great show, almost in real time. There are 2 satellites in this NASA program circling the planet across from each other so you get new images every 12 hours, morning and afternoon.

Happy viewing- this is as good as hi-tec gets for the average joe but the info can save a lot of driving for those looking for ice once you get used to using it and have verified the image with a real onsite visit. Keep us posted!