Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Clouds from Space: Cloud Tail, Lake Tana

Cloud Tail, Lake Tana
Islands or high land, elevated above the surroundings and interrupting the air stream, can produce "tails" as well as "wakes." Shuttle astronauts have frequently observed Dek Island in Lake Tana in Ethiopia, the source of the Blue Nile, with a well-developed cloud tail. This occurs when the land mass disrupts the air flow, creating downwind turbulence that promotes condensation. The lake stands at 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) above sea level. (Courtesy LPI/NASA. Picture #27-38-003)

No comments:

Post a Comment