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.


Roof Top Icing

March 17, 2022

DaleH_image4 (003)

DaleH_image5 (003)

Photographer: Dale Hugo

Summary Author: Dale Hugo; Jim Foster

My neighbor’s high-efficiency furnace produced an unusual growth of ice
(top photo) one night earlier this winter. I’ve never seen anything
like this! I think the factors involved in this structure are 1) a
light wind from the south depositing the ice to the north, 2)
temperatures that night that were around 0 F (-18 C), so the build-up
occurred quickly, 3) when methane burns, like all hydrocarbons,
water and carbon dioxide are produced, 4) another source of water
from this stack is indoor humidity — perhaps enhanced by cooking and a
humidifier on the furnace, 5) notice that this ice pillar is in the
shade of the flue pipe.

By contrast, the ice from my furnace (about 80% as efficient and older
than theirs) formed on the southeast corner of the chimney and has much
less accumulation (bottom photo). Why the difference in direction? The
mass on my roof has built up over many days. Also, prevailing winds
from the northwest directed the vapor towards the southeast. It
should be noted that my chimney flue is much wider than theirs -- older
furnaces have wider flues. I suspect vapor deposition is what caused
the odd ice pillar on my neighbor’s roof.

When water vapor is cooled below its freezing point in sub-freezing air
( supercooled), desublimation by crystallization may occur
on any available nucleus, such as a speck of dust or a piece of metal.
In this case, it's likely that the cold flue pipe served as a
nucleating surface, prompting desublimation of the super-cooled water
vapor as it emerged. Compare this growth with the Earth Science Picture
of the Day for March 9, 2022.
* Arlington Heights, Illinois Coordinates: 42.0884, -87.9806

Related EPODs

Roof Top Icing Ice Blade in Bucket Archive - Heart-Shaped
Opening of a Michigan Ice Cave Archive - Rupturing of Perito Moreno
Glacier Bridge Plate Crystal with Simple Extensions Archive -
Deep Blue Abyss on Godwin's Glacier
More...

Cryosphere Links

* Guide to Frost
* What is the Cryosphere?
* Bentley Snow Crystals
* Glaciers of the World
* Ice, Snow, and Glaciers: The Water Cycle
* The National Snow and Ice Data Center Google Earth Images
* Snow and Ice Crystals

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 2 weeks, 3 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.


Colorful Lights and Calm Night in Sweden

May 17, 2022

ColorfulNightSMALLer

Photographer: Tomas Slovinsky

Summary Author: Tomas Slovinsky

While waiting for aurora on the evening of October 29, 2021, I
sought some nice compositions and tried to make several control shots.
It did not take long before northern lights appeared above the
northern horizon and extended slowly over the sky. During this
beginning part of the show, I composed this panoramic picture with the
Milky Way and rising Moon. Now after a few months since that
trip, I am looking at the photograph and thinking about those calm and
exceptional moments under the night sky.

Photo details: Canon 6D mod, Sigma Art 28mm from a tripod
* Kiruna, Sweden Coordinates: 68.3964, 18.8386

Related EPODs

Colorful Lights and Calm Night in Sweden Brocken Spectre
Observed with Drone Sun Pillar Reflection on the Holtsós Lagoon
Moonrise and Alpenglow over the Dolomites Low Rainbow Between
Mountains Archive - Fog Funnel
More...

Atmospheric Effects Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* Optic Picture of Day: Gruppo Astrofili Galileo Galilei
* Color and Light in Nature
* The Colors of Twillight and Sunset
* Refraction Index
* Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
* What is a Rainbow?

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 11 weeks, 1 day, 20 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.


Timpa Nature Reserve of Acireale

June 17, 2022

2022 02 Timpa_2

Photographer: Vincenzo Russo

Summary Author: Vincenzo Russo

The photo above shows the southern part of the “Timpa” of Acireale,
Italy located on the east coast of Sicily. The Timpa consists of a
steep cliff overlooking the sea that rises around 500 feet (150 meters)
and extends for about 3.7 miles or 6 kilometers. It originated from the
movement of the Acireale fault, one of the most important in the
eastern region of the Etna volcano. Fault activity started about
200,000 years ago and lasted for about 100,000 years, which brought out
numerous layers of volcanic rocks that tell the geological history of
Etna. The terrain ruggedness makes the area almost inaccessible by
land. This tough topography has enabled the landscape to remain an
island of unspoiled nature, despite being located within a highly
urbanized region. For this reason, it was locally proclaimed a
nature reserve in 1999. Photo taken on February 6, 2022.

Photo details: Nikon D810a, Nikon 24-120 mm f/4G, focal length: 30mm,
f/11, ISO-12800, 1/100 second exposure
* Acireale, Italy Coordinates: 37.612,15.173

Related EPODs

Timpa Nature Reserve of Acireale Archive - Inside Kawah Ijen's
Crater Archive - Colors of Grand Prismatic Spring Recent
Eruption of Piton de la Fournaise Archive - Levadas of Madeira
Archive - Mount Cervino and Blue Lake
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 15 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.


Volcanic Sunsets Observed from Mutare, Zimbabwe in 2022

August 17, 2022

121 Volcanic Sunsets 21 January-20 June 2022

Photographer: Dr Peter Lowenstein
Summary Author: Dr Peter Lowenstein

From January 21, 2022, when the sulfur dioxide plume and
stratospheric aerosols associated with the January 15, 2022,
eruption of the Hunga-Tonga Volcano first reached Africa, until
June 20, 2022, a total of 121 brightly colored volcanic sunsets
were recorded as observed from Mutare, Zimbabwe. The mosaic above shows
the best picture taken on each day that a volcanic sunset display
was either directly visible or reflections appeared through thin
clouds, thereby illustrating a unique 5-month record of ground-based
observation of the after-effects of a major volcanic eruption on the
Southern Hemisphere stratosphere.

Photo details: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 and ZS40 cameras, in sunset or
manual exposure modes. Montage compiled from two 4K screen captures of
Windows 10 image thumbnail displays merged with Photoshop Elements 15
and background changed to grey.


Mutare, Zimbabwe Coordinates: -18.975771, 32.650351


Related EPODs

Volcanic Sunsets Observed from Mutare, Zimbabwe in 2022
Distortion of the Setting Moon and Lower Mock Mirage Fogbow
Observed from the Ground and from a Tower Atacama Desert and
Volcanic Twilight Triple Halo Event - 22° Circular Halo, 9° Halo,
and Circumscribed Halo Fogbow over Sebago Lake, Maine
More...

Atmospheric Effects Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* Optic Picture of Day: Gruppo Astrofili Galileo Galilei
* Color and Light in Nature
* The Colors of Twillight and Sunset
* Refraction Index
* Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
* What is a Rainbow?

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 24 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.


iridescent Clouds Observed from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong

October 17, 2022

20210923_Iridescent_Cloud_DSCN1216

TerryL_20220601_Iridescent_Pileus_Cloud_DSCN3143

Photographer: Terry Lui
Summary Author: Terry Lui; Jim Foster

I observed these two iridescent clouds on the same day, June 1,
2022, from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. The cloud at top is likely an
altocumulus cloud in the incipient stage of formation, and the
cloud at bottom is a pileus cloud. Both clouds show iridescence or
irisation because their cloud droplets are small (perhaps 1/100 the
size of a raindrop) and all are about the same size. The pastel colors
result from the process of diffraction – light waves are interfered
with by the small droplets in such a way that orders of colors overlap
each other.

Tuen Mun, Hong Kong Coordinates: 22.3908, 113.9725


Related EPODs

iridescent Clouds Observed from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong Dew Drops
Golden Cumulus Clouds over Mt Makiling at Sunrise Thunderstorm
and Rainbow over Zagreb, Croatia Etna Volcano at Night
Crepuscular Rays Observed from Turin, Italy
More...

Atmospheric Effects Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* Optic Picture of Day: Gruppo Astrofili Galileo Galilei
* Color and Light in Nature
* The Colors of Twillight and Sunset
* Refraction Index
* Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
* What is a Rainbow?

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 33 weeks, 20 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.


Beautiful Alpine Lakes in the Sierra Nevada Range

November 17, 2022

2022 August 28 - a7 Eastern Sierra Nevada's Sabrina Trailhead to
Hungry Packer Lake Blue Lake 1

2022 August 29 - a12 Eastern Sierra Nevada's Sabrina Trailhead to
Hungry Packer Lake Scenery Drunken Sailor Lake Lupine 1

Photographer: Cindy Todd

Summary Author: Cindy Todd

Blue Lake, shown above at top, is about 3 miles (5 km) from the
Sabrina Lake Trailhead in the Eastern Sierra Nevada’s, part of
Inyo National Forest. But it's a steep uphill climb the entire way.
It’s worth it, thought! Blue Lake just appears out of nowhere and is a
simply gorgeous alpine lake, with nearby granite peaks jutting
up towards the sky.

After camping the night, I hiked to Hungry Packer Lake (bottom
photo). You can see Picture Peak in the background at right center.
The hike from Blue Lake is about 3.5 miles (6 km), however it’s a
relatively easy hike. Along the way, you’ll see several other alpine
lakes before viewing Picture Peak, standing at 13,140 feet (4005 m) in
elevation. Hiking in this area is stunning! Photos taken on August 28
and 29, 2022, respectively.


Inyo National Forest, California Coordinates: 37.3159, -118.4722


Related EPODs

Beautiful Alpine Lakes in the Sierra Nevada Range Quechee Gorge
in East Central Vermont Limestone Stratification near Modica,
Sicily Strawberry Moon and Etna Exhaust Kodachrome Basin State
Park, Utah Idaho’s Gravity-Defying Balanced Rock
More...

Geography Links

* Atlapedia Online
* CountryReports
* GPS Visualizer
* Holt Rinehart Winston World Atlas
* Mapping Our World
* Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
* Types of Land
* World Mapper

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 37 weeks, 3 days, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)