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.


Airglow Over Dark Sky Park Poloniny

March 25, 2022

Airglow_BlastSMALLer

Photographer: Tomas Slovinsky

Summary Authors: Tomas Slovinsky; Cadan Cummings

During my trip to the darkest place in Slovakia, Dark Sky Park
Poloniny, I witnessed the most vibrant airglow I have ever
observed. Airglow occurs when either ultraviolet light from the Sun
excites electrons of upper atmosphere gases or the molecules are
ionized and later recombine to produce a free electron. This phenomenon
is the reason why the night sky is continuously blanked in a faint
light. Although present throughout the year and around the world,
airglow is best visible in dark locations where light pollution is
minimal.

At the beginning of the night, the sky was completely dark.
However, right before the end of the astronomical night, the brightness
of the sky dramatically increased to the point that it even lit the
foreground. I had one guess about what was happening, but I wanted to
be sure and took this picture. When I pointed the camera towards the
sky, I was truly excited about the nice colors and structures.
Coincidentally, there is an airglow-monitoring program at the
Kolonica Observatory called AMON-ES (Airglow MONitoring -
Extended Station). It's clear that under the dark night sky, the real
gems are revealed.
* Dark Sky Park Poloniny, Slovakia Coordinates: 49.054, 22.409

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Airglow Over Dark Sky Park Poloniny Three-Dimensional Moon
Comet Leonard over Italy California Nebula (NGC 1499)
NASA’s DART Spacecraft and Booster Dramatic Skies
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 3 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.


Flood Hazard in the Desert

April 25, 2022


TomMc_.EPOD.CampCreekFloodAugust18.2021 (003)

2022.EPOD.RadarCampCreekFloodAug18.2021

Photographer: Thomas McGuire (Author and Town Council Member)

Summary Author: Thomas McGuire (Author and Town Council Member)

On August 18, 2021, a massive flood swept through the remote
settlement of Camp Creek, north of Phoenix, Arizona. Damage to this
creek-side community was greater than any flood recorded in the past 50
years, or more. Even houses 20 feet (6 m) above the normal stream level
were destroyed. But far worse, two tourists in a rental
all-terrain vehicle (ATV) died because they were unaware of the
danger of these rapid flood events. Regrettably, the death of
people who try to drive through flooded stream crossings is an all-too
common event in the Phoenix area.

Camp Creek is a minor stream north of Phoenix that’s less than 15 miles
(24 km) long. But a combination of moist monsoon winds from the
Gulf of California, sparse vegetation within the watershed, ash
from recent brushfires acting as cloud-producing condensation nuclei
and adiabatic cooling caused by air rising into the highlands, led
to a sudden flood event. Although no official measurements exist, the
author estimates the brief, but maximum discharge of this small stream
was on the order of 10,000 cubic feet per second; comparable to water
flowing in the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

The top image shows the damage to the riparian environment after
streamflow returned to its normal discharge level. The bottom photo is
a radar image showing a monsoon wind carrying a narrow band of intense
rainfall through the Camp Creek watershed. Note that Cave Creek wash,
only 5 miles (8 km) to the west, had relatively modest flooding.
* Camp Creek, Arizona Coordinates: 33.878, -111.803

Related EPODs

Flood Hazard in the Desert Skypools on Surface Waves Great
Salt Lake’s Mirabilite Mounds La Cascata di Fondo and Orion The
Hunter Waterfall in the Desert Knik Arm Tides of Alaska
More...

Hydrology Links

* Current Sea Surface Temperature
* NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery
* Ocean Color
* What is hydrology?
* Tides and Currents
* Water Resources of the United States
* World Waterfall Database
* The USGS Water Science School
* World Water Database
* The World’s Water
* USGS Surface Water Information Pages

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 8 weeks, 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.


Sun Granules

May 25, 2022

Solar granules 18082017 1249

Photographer: Matteo Vacca

Summary Authors: Matteo Vacca; Cadan Cummings

The photograph above shows granules on the photosphere of the
Sun. These irregularly shaped features are produced by plasma
convection currents below the Sun’s surface. Convection occurs when
fusion reactions heat opaque gases, which causes them to rise
to the surface and subsequently emit energy. Several million
granules cover the Sun’s surface at any time; however, they usually
last between 8 to 20 minutes before dissipating. To give a sense of
scale to the photo, an average solar granule has a diameter of about
930 miles or 1500 kilometers. Always protect your eyes when
observing the Sun.
* Milis, Sardinia, Italy Coordinates: 40.0487, 8.6370

Related EPODs

Sun Granules Violet and Green Flashes at Sunset Panoramic
View of Etna and the Winter Solstice Solar Eclipse From the Air
Over the South Atlantic Ocean Clouds In a Fiery Sunset Analemma
Observed in Taipei, Taiwan
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Sun Links

* NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory
* NASA Solar Eclipse Page
* NOAA Solar Calculator
* The Sun-Earth Connection: Heliophysics
* The Sunspot Cycle
* Solar System Exploration: The Sun
* The Sun Now
* This Week’s Sky

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 12 weeks, 2 days, 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.


Water Eruption

July 25, 2022

Eruzione d'acqua 2

Photographer: Emanuele Nifosì

Summary Author: Emanuele Nifosì

Near the village of Sampieri, Italy, there is an approximately
three foot or one-meter diameter natural well along the cliff that
connects to the sea through a canal. This opening is the result of
natural erosion that happened over the past centuries and consists
of two main segments- the first part is on the surface while the other
section is underground. Depending on the meteorological and marine
conditions, which on the day of these photos included wind from the
south-east with gusts of 25-30 miles per hour (40-50 kilometers per
hour) and rough sea, the water column reaches this opening and explodes
upwards to over six and a half feet or two meters in height. Photo
taken on April 2, 2022.
* Sampieri, Ragusa, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 36.7219, 14.7370

Related EPODs

Water Eruption Flood Hazard in the Desert Skypools on
Surface Waves Great Salt Lake’s Mirabilite Mounds La Cascata di
Fondo and Orion The Hunter Waterfall in the Desert
More...

Hydrology Links

* Current Sea Surface Temperature
* NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery
* Ocean Color
* What is hydrology?
* Tides and Currents
* Water Resources of the United States
* World Waterfall Database
* The USGS Water Science School
* World Water Database
* The World’s Water
* USGS Surface Water Information Pages

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 21 weeks, 22 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.


Rain Shaft Observed over St. Petersburg, Florida

August 25, 2022

IMG_20220530_231450_494

Photographer: Stromy

Summary Author: Stromy; Jim Foster

The photo above shows a classic precipitation shaft from a
strong storm cell as observed from near the Gandy Bridge in St.
Petersburg, Florida. While it seems that a leak developed in the cloud
allowing water to pour out, in actuality, rain is being pushed
groundward by a downdraft generated by the storm. Well-defined
shafts such as this may be an indication of a microburst. No
significant damage was reported from this storm. Photo taken with a
p30pro cellphone on May 30, 2022.


St. Petersburg, Florida Coordinates: 27.7676, -82.6403


Recent EPODs

eastern_flank_of_mt_etna summertime_fireflies_and_star_trails
lunar_pareidolia_profile_of_womans_face
carachipampa_volcano_argentina pollen_and_flying_seeds
volcanic_sunsets_observed_from_mutare_zimbabwe_in_2022
-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 25 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.


Lamiaceae Family of Aromatic Flowering Plants

October 25, 2022

Menashe_sage2

Photographer: Menashe Davidson

Summary Author: Menashe Davidson

The Lamiaceae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as
mint or deadnettle. Plants in this family are characterized
by square stems, paired and simple leaves, and two-lipped
open-mouthed tubular flowers. Many of these plants are aromatic in all
parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint,
rosemary, sage, lavender, and salvia. They’re cultivated not only for
their aromatic qualities, but also for their ease of cultivation and
for their decorative foliage (coleus, for instance).

The photos above demonstrate the botanical richness of plants in
the Lamiaceae family. They were all grown in containers in my home
garden in Rishon Le Zion Israel, on September 4, 2022.

Picture 1 - Plectranthus Mona Lavender -- ornamental

Picture 2 - Coleus amboinicus -- ornamental

Picture 3 - rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) -- herb

Picture 4 - basil (Ocimum basilicum) -- herb


Rishon Le Zion, Israel Coordinates 31.9730, 34.7925


Related EPODs

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Use of Wild Plants in Floriculture The Wonder of Roots: Part 2
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Plant Links

* Discover Life
* Tree Encyclopedia
* What are Phytoplankton?
* Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
* USDA Plants Database
* University of Texas Native Plant Database
* Plants in Motion
* What Tree is It?

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

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 34 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.


Glacial Striations in Victoria, British Columbia

November 25, 2022


L1005811

Photographer: Joe LaCour

Summary Author: Joe LaCour

Just a few hundred meters southeast and across the street from where
the Coho ferry docks in downtown Victoria, British Columbia,
you can see a great example of the power of the glaciers from a
previous ice age. Some 15,000 years ago, a glacier flowed over what
is now Victoria. The surface of the outcrop shown above was
grooved, scratched, and polished by the cutting action of pebbles
and boulders dragged along like a piece of giant sandpaper frozen to
the bottom a glacier. This fascinating ice age relic might be easy to
miss as the attention of many passers-by is captured by the striking
Legislative Parliament Building (not in photo). Note that the
bronze plaque in the foreground - Glacial Grooves and Striations
- acknowledges Victoria's glacial history.

Photo details: Leica M9 Digital camera; 35mm Summicron lens; f13; 1/60
second exposure; ISO320; processed with DxO PhotoLab.


Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Coordinates: 48.4284, -123.3656


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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 38 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.


Fernlike Snow Crystal

December 25, 2022

Wilson_snow_crystal_1e018f4a57d4c9c72ca62b8e6a3b374a

Photographer: Wilson Bentley

Summary Author: Jim Foster

The lacy crystal shown above, as well as hundreds of other snow
crystals, were first photographed by Wilson Alwyn Bentley (1865-1931).
These photomicrographs are housed at the Bentley Snow Crystal
Collection in the Schwerdtfeger Library, at the University of
Wisconsin. According to the Lee/Magano system, this lovely specimen
is classified as a fernlike dendrite snow crystal ( P2e). Snow
crystals are six-sided because the water molecules that form them are
characteristically arranged in layers of hexagonal rings. This
results in their stunning six-fold symmetry.



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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 42 weeks, 6 days, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)