images

Von Karman vortices

by

Nasa/Novapix

Reference

t-nua06-00201

Date

2009-04-20

Each of these swirling clouds is the result of a meteorological phenomenon known as a von Karman vortex. These vortices appeared over Alexander Selkirk Island in the southern Pacific Ocean. Rising precipitously from the surrounding waters, the island’s highest point is nearly a mile (1.6 km) above sea level. As wind-driven clouds encounter this obstacle, they flow around it to form large, spinning eddies.
This false color image was acquired by Landsat 7 satellite on September 15, 1999.