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  • ES Picture of the Day 17 2022

    From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Thu Feb 17 11:03:20 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.


    Inferior Mirage In Venetian Lagoon

    February 17, 2022

    MarioFreitas-July27-2017-P1150478

    Photographer: Mario Freitas

    Summary Author: Mario Freitas

    The photo above was taken while on a boat cruise of the Venetian
    Lagoon and shows an intriguing optical effects visible on the southern
    horizon. Incoming sunlight caused the air close to water surface to
    be warmer and less dense compared to cooler, denser air layers above.
    This discontinuity in air refraction index forced low angle light
    rays to bend upwards, giving origin to the illusion of floating masses
    above the lagoon level. Such phenomenon characterizes an inferior
    mirage. It’s important to mention the real horizon line is missing in
    this field of view, thus making invisible the islands' basis, and
    creating what is called a vanishing line. Photo taken on July 27,
    2017.
    * Venice, Italy Coordinates: 45.423, 12.355

    Related EPODs

    Inferior Mirage In Venetian Lagoon Anticrepuscular Rays Over
    the Ionian Sea Belt of Venus and Cirrus Vertebratus Cloud Anvil
    Clouds and Crepuscular Rays Twilight Colors over Biviere di Cesarò
    Lake Double Rainbow Sunset Over Italy
    More...

    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

    --- up 10 weeks, 4 days, 20 hours, 45 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Thu Mar 17 12:00:54 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.


    Roof Top Icing

    March 17, 2022

    DaleH_image4 (003)

    DaleH_image5 (003)

    Photographer: Dale Hugo

    Summary Author: Dale Hugo; Jim Foster

    My neighbor’s high-efficiency furnace produced an unusual growth of ice
    (top photo) one night earlier this winter. I’ve never seen anything
    like this! I think the factors involved in this structure are 1) a
    light wind from the south depositing the ice to the north, 2)
    temperatures that night that were around 0 F (-18 C), so the build-up
    occurred quickly, 3) when methane burns, like all hydrocarbons,
    water and carbon dioxide are produced, 4) another source of water
    from this stack is indoor humidity — perhaps enhanced by cooking and a
    humidifier on the furnace, 5) notice that this ice pillar is in the
    shade of the flue pipe.

    By contrast, the ice from my furnace (about 80% as efficient and older
    than theirs) formed on the southeast corner of the chimney and has much
    less accumulation (bottom photo). Why the difference in direction? The
    mass on my roof has built up over many days. Also, prevailing winds
    from the northwest directed the vapor towards the southeast. It
    should be noted that my chimney flue is much wider than theirs -- older
    furnaces have wider flues. I suspect vapor deposition is what caused
    the odd ice pillar on my neighbor’s roof.

    When water vapor is cooled below its freezing point in sub-freezing air
    ( supercooled), desublimation by crystallization may occur
    on any available nucleus, such as a speck of dust or a piece of metal.
    In this case, it's likely that the cold flue pipe served as a
    nucleating surface, prompting desublimation of the super-cooled water
    vapor as it emerged. Compare this growth with the Earth Science Picture
    of the Day for March 9, 2022.
    * Arlington Heights, Illinois Coordinates: 42.0884, -87.9806

    Related EPODs

    Roof Top Icing Ice Blade in Bucket Archive - Heart-Shaped
    Opening of a Michigan Ice Cave Archive - Rupturing of Perito Moreno
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    More...

    Cryosphere Links

    * Guide to Frost
    * What is the Cryosphere?
    * Bentley Snow Crystals
    * Glaciers of the World
    * Ice, Snow, and Glaciers: The Water Cycle
    * The National Snow and Ice Data Center Google Earth Images
    * Snow and Ice Crystals

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

    https://epod.usra.edu

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    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Sun Apr 17 12:01:02 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.


    Archive - Fog Funnel

    April 16, 2022

    https://epod.usra.edu/.a/6a0105371bb32c970b01a511dd303b970c-pi

    Every weekend we present a notable item from our archives.

    This EPOD was originally published on July 25, 2014.

    Photographer: Raymond Murphy
    Summary Author: Raymond Murphy

    Shown above is a photo of a fleeting funnel in the evaporating
    morning fog observed on a small lake near Saranac Lake, New
    York. This short-lived vortex was perhaps 15 ft (4.5 m) in height
    and moved slowly to the left. Generally, these vortices last for only
    for a few seconds. When the air is still and the warmth of the Sun
    has burned off ( evaporated) all but the last bits of the morning
    fog that often blankets this part of the Adirondack Mountains,
    tube-like vortices can sometimes be detected in the mist. The
    evaporating mist isn't uniform but tends to gather into small cloudlets
    one to two feet high (about 0.5 m) that exhibit a surprising amount of
    vertical motion and even slight rotation. There are nearly a dozen of
    these cloudlets in the photo. Every once in a while, if the rotation is
    just strong enough to spawn a tube of spinning air that extends higher
    up, and if the temperature-humidity-pressure conditions are just right,
    condensation occurs at the wall of the tube, making it visible in
    the sunlight. Note also the crepuscular rays at right. Photo taken
    on June 23, 2014.
    * Upper Saranac Lake, New York Coordinates: 44.2925, -74.3256

    Related EPODs

    Archive - Fog Funnel Elevated Temperature Inversion and the
    Titanic's Distress Rockets Eiffel Tower Shadow The Belt of
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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

    --- up 6 weeks, 6 days, 21 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Tue May 17 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.


    Colorful Lights and Calm Night in Sweden

    May 17, 2022

    ColorfulNightSMALLer

    Photographer: Tomas Slovinsky

    Summary Author: Tomas Slovinsky

    While waiting for aurora on the evening of October 29, 2021, I
    sought some nice compositions and tried to make several control shots.
    It did not take long before northern lights appeared above the
    northern horizon and extended slowly over the sky. During this
    beginning part of the show, I composed this panoramic picture with the
    Milky Way and rising Moon. Now after a few months since that
    trip, I am looking at the photograph and thinking about those calm and
    exceptional moments under the night sky.

    Photo details: Canon 6D mod, Sigma Art 28mm from a tripod
    * Kiruna, Sweden Coordinates: 68.3964, 18.8386

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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

    --- up 11 weeks, 1 day, 20 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Fri Jun 17 12:00:54 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.


    Timpa Nature Reserve of Acireale

    June 17, 2022

    2022 02 Timpa_2

    Photographer: Vincenzo Russo

    Summary Author: Vincenzo Russo

    The photo above shows the southern part of the “Timpa” of Acireale,
    Italy located on the east coast of Sicily. The Timpa consists of a
    steep cliff overlooking the sea that rises around 500 feet (150 meters)
    and extends for about 3.7 miles or 6 kilometers. It originated from the
    movement of the Acireale fault, one of the most important in the
    eastern region of the Etna volcano. Fault activity started about
    200,000 years ago and lasted for about 100,000 years, which brought out
    numerous layers of volcanic rocks that tell the geological history of
    Etna. The terrain ruggedness makes the area almost inaccessible by
    land. This tough topography has enabled the landscape to remain an
    island of unspoiled nature, despite being located within a highly
    urbanized region. For this reason, it was locally proclaimed a
    nature reserve in 1999. Photo taken on February 6, 2022.

    Photo details: Nikon D810a, Nikon 24-120 mm f/4G, focal length: 30mm,
    f/11, ISO-12800, 1/100 second exposure
    * Acireale, Italy Coordinates: 37.612,15.173

    Related EPODs

    Timpa Nature Reserve of Acireale Archive - Inside Kawah Ijen's
    Crater Archive - Colors of Grand Prismatic Spring Recent
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    More...

    Geology Links

    * Earthquakes
    * Geologic Time
    * Geomagnetism
    * General Dictionary of Geology
    * Mineral and Locality Database
    * Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
    * This Dynamic Earth
    * USGS
    * MyShake - University of California, Berkeley
    * USGS Ask a Geologist
    * USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
    * USGS Volcano Hazards Program

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

    https://epod.usra.edu

    --- up 15 weeks, 4 days, 21 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Wed Aug 17 12:01:00 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.


    Volcanic Sunsets Observed from Mutare, Zimbabwe in 2022

    August 17, 2022

    121 Volcanic Sunsets 21 January-20 June 2022

    Photographer: Dr Peter Lowenstein
    Summary Author: Dr Peter Lowenstein

    From January 21, 2022, when the sulfur dioxide plume and
    stratospheric aerosols associated with the January 15, 2022,
    eruption of the Hunga-Tonga Volcano first reached Africa, until
    June 20, 2022, a total of 121 brightly colored volcanic sunsets
    were recorded as observed from Mutare, Zimbabwe. The mosaic above shows
    the best picture taken on each day that a volcanic sunset display
    was either directly visible or reflections appeared through thin
    clouds, thereby illustrating a unique 5-month record of ground-based
    observation of the after-effects of a major volcanic eruption on the
    Southern Hemisphere stratosphere.

    Photo details: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 and ZS40 cameras, in sunset or
    manual exposure modes. Montage compiled from two 4K screen captures of
    Windows 10 image thumbnail displays merged with Photoshop Elements 15
    and background changed to grey.


    Mutare, Zimbabwe Coordinates: -18.975771, 32.650351


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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

    --- up 24 weeks, 2 days, 21 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Sat Sep 17 12:01:06 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.


    Sylvanshine

    September 16, 2022


    SylvanshineWeb

    Photographer: Marco Meniero

    Summary Author: Marco Meniero

    I finally managed to photograph an optical phenomenon that’s eluded me
    for years, namely the sylvanshine, a faint reflection of light
    produced by micro-drops of water on the leaves of trees. See slighter
    brighter patches adjacent to the arrows on the above photo.
    Essentially, dew drops on waxy leaves reflects beams of
    sunlight back toward the observer -- a type of backscatter
    mechanism.

    The phenomenon was explained in 1994 by Professor Alistair Fraser,
    an expert in meteorological optics. According to his analysis, the wax
    on the leaves causes the water to form beads, which in effect become
    micro-lenses, focusing the light to a spot on the leaf's surface.
    The image at this spot is then directed in the opposite direction. This
    effect can even make certain trees appear snow-covered on moonlit
    summer nights. Photo taken from Viterbo Airport, on September 6, 2022,
    at 09:38 a.m. local time.

    Photo details: Nikon Z9 camera; Nikon S 14-24 lens; 2.8; 32 ISO; f /
    3.2; 1/160 second exposure.


    Viterbo Airport, Italy Coordinates: 42.436111, 12.061667


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    Setting Moon and Lower Mock Mirage
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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

    --- up 28 weeks, 5 days, 21 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Mon Oct 17 12:00:28 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.


    iridescent Clouds Observed from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong

    October 17, 2022

    20210923_Iridescent_Cloud_DSCN1216

    TerryL_20220601_Iridescent_Pileus_Cloud_DSCN3143

    Photographer: Terry Lui
    Summary Author: Terry Lui; Jim Foster

    I observed these two iridescent clouds on the same day, June 1,
    2022, from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. The cloud at top is likely an
    altocumulus cloud in the incipient stage of formation, and the
    cloud at bottom is a pileus cloud. Both clouds show iridescence or
    irisation because their cloud droplets are small (perhaps 1/100 the
    size of a raindrop) and all are about the same size. The pastel colors
    result from the process of diffraction – light waves are interfered
    with by the small droplets in such a way that orders of colors overlap
    each other.

    Tuen Mun, Hong Kong Coordinates: 22.3908, 113.9725


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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

    --- up 33 weeks, 20 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Thu Nov 17 11:01:10 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.


    Beautiful Alpine Lakes in the Sierra Nevada Range

    November 17, 2022

    2022 August 28 - a7 Eastern Sierra Nevada's Sabrina Trailhead to
    Hungry Packer Lake Blue Lake 1

    2022 August 29 - a12 Eastern Sierra Nevada's Sabrina Trailhead to
    Hungry Packer Lake Scenery Drunken Sailor Lake Lupine 1

    Photographer: Cindy Todd

    Summary Author: Cindy Todd

    Blue Lake, shown above at top, is about 3 miles (5 km) from the
    Sabrina Lake Trailhead in the Eastern Sierra Nevada’s, part of
    Inyo National Forest. But it's a steep uphill climb the entire way.
    It’s worth it, thought! Blue Lake just appears out of nowhere and is a
    simply gorgeous alpine lake, with nearby granite peaks jutting
    up towards the sky.

    After camping the night, I hiked to Hungry Packer Lake (bottom
    photo). You can see Picture Peak in the background at right center.
    The hike from Blue Lake is about 3.5 miles (6 km), however it’s a
    relatively easy hike. Along the way, you’ll see several other alpine
    lakes before viewing Picture Peak, standing at 13,140 feet (4005 m) in
    elevation. Hiking in this area is stunning! Photos taken on August 28
    and 29, 2022, respectively.


    Inyo National Forest, California Coordinates: 37.3159, -118.4722


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    Geography Links

    * Atlapedia Online
    * CountryReports
    * GPS Visualizer
    * Holt Rinehart Winston World Atlas
    * Mapping Our World
    * Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
    * Types of Land
    * World Mapper

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

    https://epod.usra.edu

    --- up 37 weeks, 3 days, 21 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Sat Dec 17 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.


    Red Bar Natural Bridge, Utah

    December 16, 2022

    RedBarBridgeForEPOD

    Photographer: Stan Wagon

    Summary Author: Stan Wagon

    Red Bar Bridge is a remarkable landform found at the head of a small
    wash near the bottom of the Moki Dugway, a famously steep road near
    Mexican Hat, Utah. This waterfall bridge forms a natural arch
    caused by the tremendous flow of water and has dimensions of
    approximately 85 feet (26 m) in length with an 8.5-foot (2.6 m) gap.
    The arch is composed of sandstone from the Halgaito Sandstone
    Formation, which underlies the massive Cedar Mesa Sandstone
    Formation. These formations are part of the Cutler Geologic Group
    that arose during the Permian period.

    Photo details: Sony A6500 camera; 10 mm lens; f/13; 1/800 second
    exposure; ISO 400 (first shot), 320 second shot.


    Mexican Hat, Utah Coordinates: 37.1519, -109.8671


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    Geology Links

    * Earthquakes
    * Geologic Time
    * Geomagnetism
    * General Dictionary of Geology
    * Mineral and Locality Database
    * Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
    * This Dynamic Earth
    * USGS
    * MyShake - University of California, Berkeley
    * USGS Ask a Geologist
    * USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
    * USGS Volcano Hazards Program

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

    https://epod.usra.edu

    --- up 41 weeks, 5 days, 21 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)