EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Rainbow Swamp

May 03, 2022

6E91DB78-18F2-4DE8-B59E-005515A3B5A5

Photographer: Daniel Widner

Summary Authors: Daniel Widner; Cadan Cummings

The photo above features two types of rainbow effects, one an artifact
of the camera and the other a unique biological process. As part of
the nutrient cycle, swamps are constantly growing and recycling
energy and matter. When a plant dies or leaves drop in the fall, the
vegetation begins decaying before eventually bacteria and other
decomposers break it down to acquire nutrients they need to
survive. In the case of the swamp above, natural oils were produced by
decomposing vegetation as well as possible from anaerobic bacteria
reducing iron in the soil. This resulted in a thin film being created
on the surface of the swamp, visible as a rainbow of different pastel
hues. For the multicolored layer to be so noticeable, the waters must
have been still long enough for the oils to separate out of the water.

Visible in the top of the image is an equally colorful lens flare
caused by an internal reflection within the camera. This type of image
artifact is common under bright light and highly reflective conditions.
Although inadvertent, the lens flare gives the photo a unique look
combined with this already colorful and unusual microbial process.
* Charles City County, Virginia Coordinates: 37.402, -77.148

Recent EPODs

melting_frost_on_a_windshield
archive_tongariro_national_park_new_zealand
california_quail_after_a_snowstorm
pinwheel_rock_in_the_mojave_desert running_man
effect_of_rainfall_on_ornamental_flowers
-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 9 weeks, 1 day, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


The Bolide: Make a "Very Light" Wish

June 03, 2022

8850 t bolide fb

Photographer: Orazio Mezzio

Summary Author: Orazio Mezzio; Cadan Cummings

Earlier this year, I was able to observe and photograph a rare
manifestation of a shooting star: the bolide. Oftentimes
interchangeably called a fireball, a bolide is a fragment of rock,
comet, or asteroid that burns up or explodes in Earth’s upper
atmosphere. These objects are still considered meteors, but are
much larger in size and brightness. Their brilliant flare (around
apparent magnitude -14 or brighter) is produced as the object
careens through the atmosphere and disintegrates as the surface weakens
due to incredible external pressure. As is seen in the photo above, the
bolide is bright even compared to the red supergiant Antares and
the other stars in the constellation Scorpius.
* Noto, Province of Syracuse, Italy Coordinates: 36.892, 15.065

Related EPODs

The Bolide: Make a Projection of the Full Moon Antares and
the Moon Running Man Orion and Taurus in Color Airglow Over
Dark Sky Park Poloniny
More...

Night Sky Links

* Space Weather Live
* Space Weather Live Forum
* About the Moon
* American Meteor Society
* Arbeitskreises Meteore e.V.
* Global City Lights
* Heavens Above Home Page
* The International Meteor Organization
* Lunar and Planetary Institute
* MoonConnection
* NASA Eclipse Web Page
* Understanding The Moon Phases

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 13 weeks, 4 days, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Mantling on Utah’s Hogback Ridge

August 03, 2022

TomMc_EPOD.MantlingHogbackRidgeUtahMcGuire (002)

TomMc_EPOD.LowerCalfCreekFallsMcGuire (4) (002)_a

Photographer: Thomas McGuire

Summary Author: Thomas McGuire

For 5 miles (8 km), Utah’s Route 12. between Escalante and Boulder,
Utah, follows the narrow 1,000 ft (305 m) high Hogback Ridge of
Navajo Sandstone. Spectacular long views on either side of this
highway show tan-to-white-to-yellow Navajo 'slickrock'. The ridge
is also bounded by deep canyons: One is Calf Creek, with two impressive
waterfalls (bottom photo); on the opposite side is Boulder Creek,
with narrow slot canyons.

But there’s a clear sign of something missing. Part of the ridge is
strewn with giant boulders of basalt. Clearly there were lava flows
that covered the Navajo Sandstone along an unknown part of the ridge
and probably much more. For most of the 5 miles (8 km), all that’s left
are the lava-boulders mantling the sandstone.

Basalt is very resistant to weathering and erosion, so it forms the
cap rock of many flat-topped mesas in the Southwest. As the sides of
the mesa erode back, basalt boulders fall from the top and cover the
slopes along with the underlying rock type that make up the body of the
mesa. An observer can be forgiven for thinking the whole mountain is
basalt when the bulk of the bedrock is hidden beneath its thin mantle
of basalt and boulders, which will completely erode away with
(geologic) time. When this happens, there’ll be no record of the lava
flows that once covered significant areas around Hogback Ridge.


Hogback Ridge, Utah Coordinates: 37.8144, -111.4091


Related EPODs

Mantling on Utah’s Hogback Ridge Dendrite Inclusion in Opal
New Eddystone Rock Varvite Park in Brazil Volcanic Tunnels
of Reunion Island The Castles of the Calchaquíes Valleys
More...

Geology Links

* Earthquakes
* Geologic Time
* Geomagnetism
* General Dictionary of Geology
* Mineral and Locality Database
* Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
* This Dynamic Earth
* USGS
* MyShake - University of California, Berkeley
* USGS Ask a Geologist
* USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
* USGS Volcano Hazards Program

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 22 weeks, 2 days, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Emerald Lakes, New Zealand

October 03, 2022


Emerald lake tongariro

Photographer: Steve Kropp
Summary Author: Steve Kropp

This photo shows one of the two Emerald Lakes found near the summit
of Mt Tongariro, New Zealand. Their stunning emerald color is
caused by dissolved minerals that wash down from the surrounding
landscape.

The lakes formed in craters from previous volcanic eruptions. They can
be seen on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is one of the most
popular day walks in New Zealand. This walk passes over the volcanic
terrain of still active volcano Mt Tongariro. It also passes the base
of Mt Ngauruhoe, another active volcano that was used to depict
Mt Doom in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Photo taken on
April 16, 2022.
Photo details: Google Pixel 4a; ƒ/1.73; 1/2611; 4.38 mm; ISO 61

Emerald Lakes, New Zealand Coordinates: -39.133314, 175.657835

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 31 weeks, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)