2/7/2006: Clouds over Bering Sea

xoB finds this beautiful image at NASA's Earth Observatory. The explanation:

<i>Like the freshly raked white sand of a well-tended Japanese garden, rows of clouds stream over the Bering Sea from the edge of the sea ice. Called cloud streets, these cumulus clouds form when cold air from the ice blows over the open ocean, chilling the moist air. As the temperature drops, water freezes into tiny clouds, which are arranged in neat rows in line with the powerful sweep of the wind.</i>

But what makes it really amazing as an image, is that it's here on Earth yet resembles nothing you've ever seen before. It looks like a model, looks tiny. But check the scale - a fingerwidth on that image is 50km. So you're looking at a huge area in that shot.

For me the really striking thing is the illusion that the clouds are under the ice. I was convinced I was looking at it wrong until I saw the streaks of clouds atop the ice, most visible in the southeast quadrant.

I think the "wrong layering" effect is because the clouds suddenly get thin and disappear right next to the land. The water is dark, so the net effect is like a shadow cast by the ice, falling on the cloud texture.

Magnificent image.

That is simply an amazing shot. It is still, for me, a little hard to grasp the vastness of this thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawman Wow, you have some seriously pudgy fingers UT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnhowdy A sure sign of a bassman.

nature paints a pretty picture,just loke that dude on PBS w/ the wild afro .

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawman Wow, you have some seriously pudgy fingers UT.

Or 1600x1200 on 21".

My motto: "Why mess around"