von Karman Vortices

  • Credit

    <P> Image provided by the USGS EROS Data Center Satellite Systems Branch.</P> <P> <IMG SRC="/Newsroom/NewImages/Images/usgs_logo.gif" WIDTH=167 HEIGHT=62 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=0 BORDER=0> </P>

Each of these swirling clouds is the result of a meteorological phenomenon known as a von Karman vortex. 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 to form large, spinning eddies.

This image was acquired by Landsat 7’s Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) sensor on September 15, 1999. This is a false-color composite image made using shortwave infrared, infrared, and near-infrared wavelengths.

Metadata

  • Sensor

    Landsat 7/ETM+

  • Visualization Date

    2002-07-15