Each of these swirling clouds is the result of a meteorological phenomenon known as a von Karmanvortex. These vortices appeared over Alexander Selkirk Island in the southern Pacific Ocean.Rising precipitously from the surrounding waters, the island’s highest point is nearly a mile(1.6 km) above sea level. As wind-driven clouds encounter this obstacle, they flow around it toform large, spinning eddies.
This image was acquired byLandsat 7’s Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus(ETM+) sensor on September 15, 1999. This is a false-color composite image made using shortwaveinfrared, infrared, and near-infrared wavelengths.
References & Resources
Image provided by the USGS EROS Data Center Satellite Systems Branch.
