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Von Karman vortices

author: Nasa/Novapix

reference: t-nua06-00201

Image Size 300 DPI: 48 * 48 cm

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.

Keywords for this photo:

1999 - CLOUD - EARTH - EARTH FROM SPACE - FALSE COLOR - LANDSAT - LANDSAT-7 - METEOROLOGY - SATELLITE IMAGE - Von Karman -