• ES Picture of the Day 15 2022

    From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Tue Feb 15 11:01:12 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Crepuscular Rays Over the Ionian Sea

    February 15, 2022

    Epod_crepuscularrays

    Photographer: Vincenzo Russo

    Summary Author: Vincenzo Russo

    When sunlight passes through irregular obstacles- such as clouds or
    the profile of a mountain- beams of light are created that appear
    to converge towards the Sun. These distinct beams can be observed
    at either sunrise or sunset and are called crepuscular rays. The
    photo above features crepuscular rays as observed from the coast of
    Acireale, Italy overlooking the Ionian Sea.

    Crepuscular rays widen and lose contrast as they move away from the
    Sun. However, in some instances if we look in the opposite direction
    away from the Sun, they become visible again as weak beams of light
    appearing to converge towards the antisolar point. These beams on
    the horizon opposite the sunrise or sunset are called
    anticrepuscular rays. Both crepuscular and anticrepuscular rays
    produce beams that are parallel to one another although they appear to
    converge due to the viewer’s perspective. Photo taken on November
    26, 2021, at 15:25 UTC.

    Photo data: Nikon D810a; Nikon 24-120mm f/4G; focal length: 34mm;
    f/8; ISO-200; 1/125” second exposure; software: Photoshop, Capture NX-D
    * Acireale, Italy Coordinates: 37.604, 15.172

    Related EPODs

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    Atmospheric Effects Links

    * Atmospheric Optics
    * Optic Picture of Day: Gruppo Astrofili Galileo Galilei
    * Color and Light in Nature
    * The Colors of Twillight and Sunset
    * Refraction Index
    * Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
    * What is a Rainbow?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Fri Apr 15 12:01:04 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Elevated Temperature Inversion and the Titanic's Distress Rockets

    April 15, 2022

    Sunset 11-9-2018

    Rockets

    Photographer: Mila Zinkova

    Summary Author: Mila Zinkova

    Normally the air temperature decreases with height. However, sometimes
    a layer of warmer air will form above the colder air below. This is
    called " temperature inversion." If an inversion occurs relatively
    close to the ground level, and the increase in temperature from the
    surface to the warm layer is sufficiently steep, a superior mirage
    may result. Sometimes, though, the inversion will form well above the
    ground. Such inversions can trap smoke and other pollutants that reduce
    visibility. For example, on November 9, 2018, smoke from California
    wildfires was trapped well above the ground level as can be seen on the
    top photo. The Sun is hardly visible. But note that it's easier to
    detect, though distorted, when close to the horizon (middle photo).

    The Sun on the middle photo is miraged, which indicates that there was
    indeed a ground-based inversion as well. Click here to see a video
    of this sunset. What does this have to do with the RMS Titanic's
    distress rockets on the night of April 15, 1912? Herbert Stone, the
    second officer on the SS California, testified that the rockets he
    observed appeared to be very low, at about the height of the ship’s
    masthead light. In fact, the rockets could have been exploding much
    higher. The presence of an elevated temperature inversion provides a
    plausible explanation of what Stone observed and also may explain the
    fact that no one on the Californian was able to hear the
    explosions.

    After the Titanic collided with the iceberg it released steam to
    prevent an explosion as it sunk. It’s possible that this steam became
    trapped by an elevated inversion. Stone was not able to see the
    bursting rockets due to the inversion that trapped the steam. As with
    the Sun on the top photo, the Titanic’s distress rockets became more
    apparent as they were descending (photo of Sun on bottom photo). This
    is why Stone described them as low-lying rockets.

    According to a reconstruction of this event by Basu, et al. (2014),
    the explosions of the rockets took place just below the inversion,
    inside the thickest quantities of the trapped smoke and condensed steam
    (bottom photo -- "reconstructed" image). However, Basu demonstrated
    that there was no surface-based inversion in proximity to the Titanic,
    and therefore there was no superior mirage present.

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    Atmospheric Effects Links

    * Atmospheric Optics
    * Optic Picture of Day: Gruppo Astrofili Galileo Galilei
    * Color and Light in Nature
    * The Colors of Twillight and Sunset
    * Refraction Index
    * Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
    * What is a Rainbow?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Wed Jun 15 12:01:04 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Startrails on the Agave

    June 15, 2022

    ST_CostadiCarro_FG_lr

    Photographer: Filippo Galati

    Summary Author: Filippo Galati

    The photo above captures star trails from the viewpoint of the
    Costa di Carro Park between Sampieri and Cava d'Aliga villages
    in Sicily, Italy. To create the picture, 120 long exposure photos (25
    seconds each) were taken and compiled together into one image. This
    region in Sicily is characterized by a luxuriant Mediterranean
    maquis and by the presence of the agave. The closest trails
    above the sea represent Orion's belt and below it you can see the
    trail imprinted by the Orion nebula (M42), while the brightest
    trail is Sirius.

    Photo details: Sony ILCE-7M3 + Samyang 24mm, 120 shots, 25 second
    exposure, f/4, ISO-1000
    * Costa di Carro Park, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 36.717665,
    14.702444

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    Night Sky Links

    * Space Weather Live
    * Space Weather Live Forum
    * About the Moon
    * American Meteor Society
    * Arbeitskreises Meteore e.V.
    * Global City Lights
    * Heavens Above Home Page
    * The International Meteor Organization
    * Lunar and Planetary Institute
    * MoonConnection
    * NASA Eclipse Web Page
    * Understanding The Moon Phases

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Mon Aug 15 12:00:32 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Bird's Nest Fungus

    August 15, 2022

    Bird's Nest Fungus-Arbuckle

    Photographer: Kathy Arbuckle
    Summary Author: Kathy Arbuckle
    Springtime is when many bird species build nests to hold their precious
    eggs and chicks while they’re raised to fledgling stage. There’s a
    similar occurrence in the fungus world. Found on decomposing
    organic matter (the specimen shown above is growing on a rotting wooden
    board), the Bird's Nest Fungus mimics, to some degree, the form and
    function of avian nests. Although very small, the cup-shaped fungus'
    fruiting bodies, or peridium, hold tiny "eggs," peridioles, which
    contain spores. When a raindrop lands on one of these "splash cups,"
    the angle forces the eggs to be expelled out of the "nest" up to 3 ft
    (0.9 m) away to begin the life process all over again.

    Found widespread, the size of the inedible Bird's Nest Fungus
    ranges from 5-15 mm wide and 4-8 mm tall. Keep a sharp eye out for
    them and you may just spot these tiny nests where you least expect
    them. Photo taken in Spokane, Washington, on March 24, 2022.

    Spokane, Washington Coordinates: 47.6588, -117.4260


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    Plant Links

    * Discover Life
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    * Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
    * USDA Plants Database
    * University of Texas Native Plant Database
    * Plants in Motion
    * What Tree is It?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Thu Sep 15 12:00:58 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Black Widow Spider

    September 15, 2022


    Black Widow 1

    Photographer: Brian Toycen
    Summary Author: Brian Toycen

    I recently came across this black widow spider in my back yard in
    Amarillo, Texas. This is the third one I’ve found this year. So, I’m
    cautious when moving things around and always look for their
    characteristic ‘messy’ web. Only the females are marked with the red
    hourglass design.
    Black widows are the most venomous spider in North America. Their venom
    is around 15 times stronger than rattlesnake venom. Every year
    approximately 2,500 people seek treatment for their bites. Fortunately,
    they don’t inject much venom and are considered to present a high risk
    only to the very young and very old.
    This specimen is probably a Latrodectus hesperus, based on my location
    in the Texas panhandle. There are currently 31 ‘widow’ spiders in the
    Latrodectus genus and of these 5 are black widows, 3 of which
    are found in North America, Latrodectus variolus, the northern species;
    Latrodectus mactans, the southern species, and Latrodectus hesperus,
    the western species. Photo taken on August 20, 2022.
    Photo details: Canon EOS 80D; exposure 1/250 second; ISO 640; f5.6;
    focal length 200 mm.

    Amarillo, Texas Coordinates: 35.2220 -101.8313

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    Animal Links

    * Animal Diversity Web
    * ARKive
    * BirdLife International
    * Bug Guide
    * Discover Life
    * Integrated Taxonomic Information System
    * Microbial Life Resources
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the
    -
    Universities Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Sat Oct 15 12:00:36 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Dew Drops

    October 14, 2022


    IMG_8940

    IMG_8941

    Photographer: Marco Meniero

    Summary Author: Marco Meniero

    When my mother asked me to photograph the roses in her garden with my
    iPhone11 Pro, I happened to notice these beautiful dew drops. The
    temperature at which the air is saturated with vapor is called the
    dewpoint. When the surface temperature falls to the dewpoint, the
    water vapor contained in the atmosphere condenses to form drops
    (dew drops) on leaves and other surfaces. This process distinguishes
    dew from precipitation that forms directly in the air – raindrops.
    Photos taken on October 10, 2022.


    Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy Coordinates: 42.0924, 11.7954


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    Atmospheric Effects Links

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    * Refraction Index
    * Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
    * What is a Rainbow?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Tue Nov 15 11:01:18 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Moondog and Etna Lava Flow

    November 15, 2022

    Giannitumino_iridescent cloud ETNA_logo_2040pix (1)

    Photographer: Giovanni Tumino

    Summary Authors: Marco Meniero; Giovanni Tumino

    Shown above is a nighttime view of lava streaming down a flank
    of Mt Etna as viewed from Naxos Bay, Sicily, on June 9, 2022. Note the
    patch of light just above the glowing lava. This looks like it might be
    a light pillar resulting from the glowing lava flow, however,
    according to Marco Meniero, an expert on meteorological phenomena,
    it's actually paraselene or moondog. The Moon can be seen at
    the right side of the image. Note also the numerous glitter paths
    (both photo). Click here to see a video in timelapse.

    Photo details: Canon RA camera; SIGMA DG 50 mm lens; f/1,4;
    f/4,5; 4-second single-exposure; ISO 1600.


    Naxos Bay, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 37.847326, 15.294122


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    * The Colors of Twillight and Sunset
    * Refraction Index
    * Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
    * What is a Rainbow?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Thu Dec 15 11:01:14 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Lace Lichen

    December 15, 2022


    CindyT_Pismo Preserve Lace Lichen
    Photographer: Cindy Todd

    Summary Author: Cindy Todd

    Lace Lichen (Ramalina menziesii) is the official lichen of the
    State of California. This lichen has a fishnet or lace look to it,
    hence its common name. Prevalent along the Coast of California, it’s
    both a source of food and nesting material for a number of different
    animal species.

    As a backpacker/hiker who lives in California, I see it often -- it
    gives an eerie look to trees on a foggy morning. With the lace
    structure hanging down off a branch, you sometimes feel like you're in
    a horror movie where an evil witch suddenly appears. But I love
    hiking in terrain where lace lichen thrives. Photo taken on July 16,
    2022.


    Pismo Beach, California Coordinates: 35.1428, -120.6413


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    * Discover Life
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    * What are Phytoplankton?
    * Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
    * USDA Plants Database
    * University of Texas Native Plant Database
    * Plants in Motion
    * What Tree is It?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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