Start Date: End Date: Published Date Data Date
Data acquired April 22, 2004 650 x 850 110 KB - JPEG
Data acquired April 22, 2004 2600 x 3400 1 MB Bytes - JPEG
Data acquired April 22, 2004 1300 x 1700 460 KB - JPEG
The Andaman Sea, like all large bodies of water, is composed of layers of water with differing densities. The topmost layer is the least dense, with each successively deeper layer being denser. Internal waves move along underwater at the boundary between layers of different densities.
Internal waves are usually caused by the lower layer being forced against a shallow obstacle (such as a ridge) by tidal action. The ridge causes a disturbance, which creates a wave in the water layer, similar to the way that the wind can cause waves on the water.s surface. However, unlike normal surface waves, internal waves can stretch tens of kilometers in length and move throughout the ocean for several hours.
Internal waves alter sea surface currents, changing the overall .sea surface roughness.. Where these currents converge, the sea surface is more turbulent, and therefore brighter. Where the currents diverge, the surface is smoother and darker, creating zones called .slicks.. In this true-color Terra MODIS image from April 22, 2004, the slicks created by internal waves appear as dark bands in the center of the image.
Images by the MODIS Rapid Response team.
Published April 22, 2004 Data acquired April 22, 2004