Von Karman Cloud Vortices


These cloud vortices (swirls down left) have been caused by the peak of Alexander Selkirk Island (bottom left) disrupting wind-blown clouds (white). Known as von Karman vortices, this phenomenon occurs at all levels, and is important in many areas of air and fluid flow. Alexander Selkirk Island rises kilometers above the southern Pacific Ocean. Image acquired in infrared wavelengths on 15 September 1999 by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite.


Size: 3582px × 3584px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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