Cloud vortices off the Crozet Islands, south Indian Ocean - related image preview

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Cloud vortices off the Crozet Islands, south Indian Ocean - related image preview

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Cloud vortices off the Crozet Islands, south Indian Ocean

The impact of islands on the atmosphere is evident in the cloud patterns seen in this image, captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on October 2, 2005. The air flowing over the smooth surface of the ocean is forced over or around the islands. As a result, the air in the wake of the island is turbulent, churning in a braid of vortices. The clouds are shaped by these vortices into the delicate swirls seen here. The images shows cloud vortices behind the Crozet Islands in the south Indian Ocean.


Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published October 6, 2005
Data acquired October 2, 2005

Source:
Terra > MODIS
Collection:
Visible Earth