These false-color images were acquired by the Advanced Spaceborne Imaging Spectroradiometer (ASTER) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite on October 19, 2009, (top) and July 25, 2006 (bottom). Vegetation is red, while bare ground is pale blue-gray. In the 2009 image, the dark red area along the eastern side of the island likely indicates damaged or inundated vegetation. In both images, clouds and breaking waves are white or cyan. The elevation of the Sun in the sky was markedly different in each image, resulting in ocean water appearing dark blue in the 2009 image and almost black in 2006. (Credit: NASA Earth Observatory image by Robert Simmon, using data from the NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team. Caption by Robert Simmon)
