• ES Picture of the Day 21 2022

    From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Mon Feb 21 11:01:42 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.


    Summer Convection Rain Shaft

    February 21, 2022

    Meiying_IMG_0871aaa (002)

    Photographer: Meiying Lee

    Summary Author: Meiying Lee

    Featured above is a distant rain shaft as observed from Kunshan,
    Suzhou City, China on August 26, 2019, at approximately 6:30 a.m. local
    time. Summertime convective storms in subtropical regions of China
    may unleash downpours of rain, anytime of day, that can be seen quite
    clearly as they approach or depart.
    * Kunshan, Suzhou City, China Coordinates: 31.1823, 121.0071

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    Cloud Links

    * Atmospheric Optics
    * The Cloud Appreciation Society
    * Cloud Atlas
    * Color and Light in Nature

    -
    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 Mar 21 12:00:56 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.


    A Year of Sunrises from Taipei, Taiwan

    March 21, 2022

    Meiying_A Year of Sunrises in Taipei_2M (003)

    Photographer: Meiying Lee

    Summary Author: Meiying Lee

    The montage above shows a year of sunrises (2012-2013) as observed from
    Taipei, Taiwan. If you carefully view where the Sun rises, you’ll
    note that its position moves a lot during the course of a year,
    likely a lot more than you might think. This is the result of both
    Earth's revolution and the tilt of the Earth's rotation axis.

    At the bottom of the sequence, shortly after the autumnal equinox
    on October 5, sunrise was a little bit south of east and then continued
    toward the south as the year progressed. When the Sun is directly above
    the Tropic of Capricorn at noon (the winter solstice in the
    Northern Hemisphere -- December 21), sunrise occurs in the southernmost
    position in the sky.

    At the spring equinox, sunrise is almost exactly due east.
    Unfortunately, because of spring rains in Taipei, I wasn’t ablet to
    record this sunrise. At the summer solstice (June 21), the Sun is
    directly above the Tropic of Cancer at noon, and so sunrise occurs
    in the most northerly position in the sky. After the summer solstice,
    the sunrise position will slowly return to the east, and at the time of
    the autumnal equinox, the Sun again rises due east, completing the
    one-year cycle.

    Photo details: Each sunrise photo is a combination of the sunrise photo
    of that day and the landscape. The outline of the hill, just southeast
    of Taipei, is used as a reference for alignment. Photos were taken in
    Taipei, Taiwan from October 5, 2012, to September 24, 2013.
    * Taipei, Taiwan Coordinates: 25.0330, 121.5654

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    Geography Links

    * Atlapedia Online
    * CountryReports
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    * 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

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Thu Apr 21 12:01:08 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.


    Orion and Taurus in Color

    April 21, 2022

    Costellations in colours Orion Taurus 5.5

    Photographer: Paolo Palma

    Summary Author: Paolo Palma

    Over the past two years, I have collected astrophotography of all
    stars up to magnitude 5+ visible from my site in Naples, Italy
    using a 18-inch Dobsonian telescope and a smartphone. In total,
    this image collection is approximately 1300 photos. The image above
    shows a collage of all 175 stars of Orion and Taurus
    constellations up to magnitude +5.5. To show each star in a new light,
    I have put every photo out of focus to best emphasis their individual
    nuances and unique colors.

    Photo details: Dobson 18" - x285, Smartphone: A5, ISO-800, F2
    * Naples, Italy Coordinates: 40.8518, 14.2681

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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 Tue Jun 21 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.


    Cauliflorous Trees

    June 21, 2022

    Menashe_Cauliflory1a

    Menashe_Cauliflory2

    Photographer: Menashe Davidson

    Summary Author: Menashe Davidson

    Trees, especially in arid and semiarid lands, help form the "backbone"
    of the landscape. However, flowering trees add beauty to a yard in
    a way that few other plants can match. During a walk in Rishon LeZion
    Israel, on April 24, my eyes were attracted to the beauty of the
    blooming of the orchid tree ( Bauhinia variegate). Their
    orchid-like, bright pink, purple and white flowers were visually
    ravishing.

    Most woody flowering plants produce inflorescences or new growth on
    young leafy shoots. But with Bauhinia variegate, the white flowers grow
    directly on the trunk and or main branches of the tree. This unusual
    botanical trait is called cauliflory and the plants themselves are
    considered cauliflorous. The term is derived from the Latin caulis,
    meaning stem, and flor, meaning flower. Examples of cauliflory fruits
    include coffee, cacao, jack fruit and coconut.
    * Rishon LeZion, Israel Coordinates: 31.9730, 34.7925

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    Plant Links

    * Discover Life
    * Tree Encyclopedia
    * 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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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Thu Jul 21 12:00:56 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.


    Dungeness Spit Beach

    July 21, 2022


    L1005478

    Photographer: Joe LaCour

    Summary Author: Joe LaCour

    There’s quite a lot to see on this image, taken just southwest of where
    the Dungeness Spit starts in the northwest corner of the
    Dungeness Valley in Washington State. The Dungeness Spit can just
    be seen at far left where it extends into the Strait of Juan de
    Fuca. On the cliff face, a number of different sand layers can be
    detected lying above a clay layer at the bottom of the cliff.

    A lone stump has washed up on shore and is currently resting in an
    upright position. It appears to be recently unearthed as it shows a
    line of weathering. Just to the left of the stump, at the base of the
    cliff, is one of many small alluvial fans we noticed on our
    visit. The sand grains and stones streaming down the cliff wall are
    actively adding material to the Dungeness Spit. Difficult to observe on
    this photo are three bald eagles, soaring on the uplift along the
    ridge top. Photo taken on May 8, 2022.

    Photo details: Leica M9 camera, 35mm Summicron lens; f2; ISO 160; 1/125
    second exposure; processed with DXO PhotoLab 3.

    Dungeness, Washington Coordinates: 48.14406, -123.11791


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    * Holt Rinehart Winston World Atlas
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    * 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

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Sun Aug 21 12:00:56 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.


    Carachipampa Volcano, Argentina

    August 19, 2022

    Carlos_pampas_11BIS

    Photographer: Carlos Di Nallo
    Summary Author: Carlos Di Nallo

    Featured above is a photo of the Carachipampa Volcano (dark color
    at right center) located in the province of Catamarca, Argentina, in
    the region called Puna. Pumice stone fields surround the volcanic
    cone, showing that, in the past, the area was the scene of considerable
    volcanic activity.

    Also shown, in the foreground, are salt flats and sand dunes,
    typical of the arid climate that characterizes this region. Panoramic
    photos taken on May 12, 2022.

    Photo details: Canon 6D camera; Canon 17/40mm lens.


    Carachipampa Volcano, Argentina Coordinates: -26.760278, -67.741389


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    * Types of Land
    * World Mapper

    -
    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 Sep 21 12:01:08 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.


    Triboluminescence Observed on Perito Moreno Glacier

    September 21, 2022

    Glaciar baja (1)

    Photographer: Rodrigo Terren

    Summary Author: Rodrigo Terren; Jim Foster

    The photo above shows an unusual luminescent phenomenon observed
    during the rupture of the glacier walls in a portion of the Perito
    Moreno Glacier in Chile. We were photographing this glacier one night
    this past August (winter in Southern Hemisphere) when hearing a very
    loud cracking sound, suddenly noticed that an area of the ice wall had
    brightened – the white blotches on glacier at lower right center. It
    remained illuminated for more than ten minutes. This brightening is
    attributed to triboluminescence. When a material, such as a quartz
    crystal or even a life saver hard candy is pulled apart, crushed, or
    snapped, light will sometimes be emitted. Though this phenomenon is
    poorly understood and rarely observed on such a large scale, it seems
    to be caused by the rapid separation and reunification of static
    electrical charges in some brittle solids.

    The long exposure (several minutes) used to capture the brightening
    results in the star trails.


    Perito Moreno Glacier, Chile Coordinates: -50.469380, -73.029940


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    Cryosphere Links

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    -
    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 Oct 21 12:00:34 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 of Amerigo Vespucci

    October 21, 2022

    Miraggio Inferiore amerigo L

    Photographer: Marcella Giulia Pace

    Summary Author: Marcella Giulia Pace

    Shown above is a sailing ship, the Amerigo Vespucci, that was
    miraged on the horizon of the Ragusa Coast of Sicily, Italy. This
    photo was taken from the seafront of Marina di Ragusa (Sicily) at a
    height of about 9 m, and therefore the visible horizon was about 10 km
    distant. Thus, the Earth's curvature actually conceals most of the
    ship. Layers of warm air, beneath layers of cooler air generated this
    inferior mirage, in which the visible parts of the ship are flipped
    downward. This “overturning” made the ship's bowsprit appear like a
    great, open mouth advancing towards the sea.

    Note that the "Amerigo Vespucci", an Italian military school ship,
    dates from 1931. Click here to see a video of this mirage. Photo
    taken on August 28, 2022.

    Photo details: Nikon D750 camera; sigma 150-600mm lens; 1200 focal);
    1/640 second exposure; f13; ISO 100.


    Marina di Ragusa (Sicily), Italy Coordinates: 36.7834, 14.5520


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    -
    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 Nov 21 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.


    Detailed Image of Dragonfly Eye

    November 21, 2022


    GregP_Dragonfly_eye

    Photographer: Greg Parker

    Summary Author: Greg Parker

    Shown above is a full resolution, microscopic image of a dragonfly’s
    eye. The huge compound eyes of dragonflies are composed of up
    to 30,000 facets or little lenses. These compound eyes have a dorsal
    (upper) region that detects light directly from the sky above, and a
    ventral (under) region that collects light reflected off objects on the
    ground.

    We humans like to think our eyesight is pretty good, and thanks in
    large part to our big brains, we have excellent vision. We rely only on
    three opsin genes, so we have three photoreceptors (cones),
    that are sensitive to blue, green, and red light. It turns out that the
    diversity of opsin proteins that animals have in their eyes is related
    to the quality of their vision. Dragonflies have between 15 and 33
    such opsin genes, which should give some indication of just how well
    they can see.

    Note that this image looks like it’s been taken with an electron
    microscope as it has an enormous depth of focus. However, the
    focus-stacking approach I use has a major advantage over electron
    microscope images in that the image is reproduced in real color!

    Photo details: Both focus-stacking and assembling a mosaic are required
    to create an image such as this. I used a Canon 5D MkII DSLR and a
    L300BHTG research trinocular microscope, operating at a magnification
    of x20.


    Hampshire, U.K Coordinates: 50.819444, -1.59


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    Animal Links

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    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 Dec 21 11:01:04 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.


    Southern England Solargraph: Solstice to Solstice

    December 21, 2022


    GregP_2022Solargraph_EPOD
    Photographer: Greg Parker

    Summary Authors: Greg Parker; Jim Foster

    Shown above is a pinhole camera’s view of the path of the Sun,
    from solstice to solstice, captured from my location in the
    south of England. The resulting trace is called a solargraph. The
    topmost bright line here is the Sun's path on the date of the Summer
    Solstice (June 21, 2022), and the very lowest bright line is the Sun's
    path on date of the Winter Solstice (December 21, 2021). Note that the
    dark striping translates to cloudy days -- times my observatories
    (bottom of photo) got very little use. Remarkable here, though, is the
    wide band of bright lines in late winter -- fine days to be outdoors
    during the daytime and to set up my scopes at night. Compare this view
    to that from 2015.

    Photo details: For the first time since I’ve worked on these
    solargraphs, I used color -- Ilford Multigrade IV RC De Luxe 8 x
    10-inch photographic paper.


    New Forest Observatory, U.K. Coordinates: 50.819444, -1.59


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

    https://epod.usra.edu

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