Images
August 29, 2009 - Ship-Wave-Shaped Clouds by Kerguelen Islands
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This image, captured by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite on August 20, 2009 shows ship-wave-shaped clouds caused by the presence of the Kerguelen Islands in the South Indian Ocean. This cloud pattern is so-named because it resembles the V-shaped wakes left by moving objects, such as ships or even ducks.
Wind behaves like a fluid; when it encounters an obstacle (like an island), it must move around it, leaving behind a wake, or a visible wave pattern. Ship-wave-shaped cloud patterns form as the air alternately cools and warms on the wave peaks and troughs, causing clouds to form on the peaks, but not the troughs.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 08/20/2009
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
This image, captured by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite on August 20, 2009 shows ship-wave-shaped clouds caused by the presence of the Kerguelen Islands in the South Indian Ocean. This cloud pattern is so-named because it resembles the V-shaped wakes left by moving objects, such as ships or even ducks.
Wind behaves like a fluid; when it encounters an obstacle (like an island), it must move around it, leaving behind a wake, or a visible wave pattern. Ship-wave-shaped cloud patterns form as the air alternately cools and warms on the wave peaks and troughs, causing clouds to form on the peaks, but not the troughs.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 08/20/2009
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
