Los Angeles, California – January 19, 2019

This image showcases Los Angeles, California on January 19, 2019, captured from space by the Sentinel-2 satellite. Following winter storms, runoff from the Los Angeles River and surrounding watersheds pours into the Pacific Ocean, creating striking swirls of turquoise, green, and deep blue along the coastline. These vivid color gradients reveal sediment and nutrient-rich freshwater mixing with ocean currents offshore.

In sharp contrast, the snow-covered peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains are visible in the upper right of the image, highlighting the dramatic elevation change from coastal plains to alpine terrain within a short distance. The dense urban grid of Los Angeles spreads across the basin below, framed by ports, harbors, and beaches that define Southern California’s iconic coastline. If you look closely, you can even spot a contrail from an airplane flying over the city.

This scene captures a rare moment where ocean processes, winter weather, and urban geography intersect in a single, visually compelling view.