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.


Smoke from Wildfires and the Planet Mars

August 06, 2021

Mars.Smoke.20210606_200314

NWCG.Satellite.Imagery20210606

Photographer: Steven Lunt
Summary Author: Steven Lunt

Shown above at top is the western sky of southeastern Arizona as
observed shortly after sunset on June 6, 2021. Smoke from several
wildfires along the Gila River and U.S. Route 70 produced a
wispy finger pointing upwards to the planet Mars. Summer is prime
firefighting season in the western U. S, especially in the forests and
range lands surrounded by the deserts of the southwest. It seems that
there’s a never-ending war against the fires, with battles won and lost
between humans and the elements. On the satellite image (bottom), the
faint, wandering green ribbon of the Gila River can be seen between the
Mescal Fire (top center), which charred more than 70,00 acres
(28,000 hectares), and my location in Duncan, Arizona (red dot).

Several weeks ago, China's Zhurong rover landed on Mars to begin
exploring the Red Planet. Zhurong takes its name from a personage in
Chinese mythology as the god of fire.
* Duncan, Arizona Coordinates: 32.7215, -109.1053

Related EPODs

Smoke from Wildfires and the Planet Mars Archive - Ridge Line
Induced Crepuscular Rays Circumhorizon Arc over Viterbo, Italy
Noctilucent Clouds Above Paris on a Summer’s Eve Archive - Lake
Misurina in the Dolomite Alps Upper Tangent Arc Observed over San
José Pinula, Guatemala
More...

Atmospheric Effects Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* 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 13 weeks, 12 hours, 15 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.


White-mouth Dayflower in Bloom

September 06, 2021

Menashe_White-mouth_dayflower

Menashe_white-mouth_dayflower2

Photographer: Menashe Davidson

Summary Author: Menashe Davidson

You can only be amazed while watching the marvelous white-mouth
dayflower ( Commelina erecta) during blooming (top photo). These
ephemeral flowers (perennial herb) only bloom for half a day, from
about sunrise until noon, but there are many buds on the plant that
will open in the following days.

Commelina erecta is native to much of the world but may be considered
invasive in some areas. The root pattern is rhizomatous with
underground stems sending roots and shoots everywhere along their
length. But these defects, from the gardening point of view, weren’t
sufficient to deter me from domesticating them in my home garden in
Rishon LeZion, Israel.

The name “white-mouth” likely results from the flower structure – two
earlike, lovely blue petals and a lower small white petal between and
below the others. The placement of the tiny white petal gives the
appearance of a small, white mouth. Stamens are long, quite curved
and pale purple, while pistils are bright yellow and conspicuous
(bottom photo). It’s a profuse bloomer and may remain in near constant
half-day flowering throughout the season. The white-mouth dayflower is
a beautifully designed flower! Click here to see a video of
Commelina erecta during its morning bloom.
* Rishon LeZion, Israel Coordinates: 31.9730, 34.7925

Related EPODs

White-mouth Dayflower in Bloom The Corn Lily: Toxic Beauty of
the North American West Miniscule Mushrooms in Washington The
Fraser Fir - The Comeback Kid in the Smoky Mountains Creating a
Natural Abstract Photograph Alien Iceplants in California’s Half
Moon Bay State Beach
More...

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 3 days, 21 hours, 55 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.


Lunar Crepuscular Rays in Italy

October 06, 2021

Raggi crepuscolari di Luna(1)

Photographer: Elena Paschetto

Summary Author: Elena Paschetto; Cadan Cummings

The spectacular scene above features crepuscular rays observed over
Sanfront, Italy. Formed when a cloud or landform on the viewer’s
horizon partially blocks the light from the Sun or Moon,
crepuscular rays are columns of light that appear to radiate toward a
light source in the sky. Dust or aerosols in the air further enhance
the effect by scattering the incoming light. Surprisingly, the
columns of light are parallel, although perspective makes the light
appear to converge to the light source. The phenomenon primarily occurs
during twilight conditions, which is why it lends its name from the
Latin word for twilight. Unique to most instances of rays that
originate from the Sun, the picture above shows lunar crepuscular
rays created by the Waning Gibbous Moon around 2:00am local time on
July 29, 2021.

Photo data: Canon EOS 80D, 18 mm, ISO 2500, f/4, 2 second exposure
* Sanfront, Italy Coordinates: 44.6480, 7.3221

Related EPODs

Lunar Crepuscular Rays in Italy Dazzling Atmospheric Phenomena
on Painted Pavement 22-Degree Halo Observed from Norfolk, Virginia
Archive - Fog, San Francisco Skyline and Crepuscular Rays
Anticrepuscular Rays Over Ontario, Canada Lunar Corona over
Death Valley
More...

Atmospheric Effects Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* 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 4 weeks, 5 days, 21 hours, 55 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.


Archive - Frost Crystal Congregation

November 06, 2021

6a0105371bb32c970b01310f5be229970c

Every weekend we present a notable item from our archives.

This EPOD was originally published March 7, 2010.

Photographer: Jean Francois Coliac
Summary Author: Jean Francois Coliac; Jim Foster

The photo above shows an assemblage of lacy frost crystals attached
to a small plant in the French Alps. These large plate crystals
formed in very cold but still relatively humid air. They grew
incrementally as water vapor condensed at the most exposed points
over the crystals’ surfaces (upon edges and imperfections). Note that
frost crystals tend to form perpendicular to vertical features such as
plant stalks or leaf stems. Photo taken in early February 2010.

Related EPODs

Archive - Frost Crystal Congregation Archive - Gurgler Glacier
April Snow in Dolly Sods, West Virginia Ice Falls in Valganna,
Italy Ice Cover and Ice-Out on Sebago Lake During the Winter of
2021 Archive - LaCrosse Ice Falls
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 9 weeks, 1 day, 21 hours, 55 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.


Fogbow on Hawksbill Mountain, Virginia

December 06, 2021

JohnA_Picture1

JohnA_Picture2

Photographer: John Adam

Summary Author: John Adam

Hawksbill Mountain, at approximately 4,050 ft. high (1,234 m) is
the highest peak in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia. We
were driving along parts of the Skyline Drive hoping to catch views
of the fall leaf colors, but (i) were about a week or more too early,
and (ii) were driving in thick fog most of the way! However, there are
some beautiful hikes of varying lengths all along the road, and we
decided to take the one to the summit of this peak (it’s about a mile
from the parking lot and not at all strenuous). The leaf colors were
quite spectacular when viewed from “within” the woods. At the top we
encountered a slowly-changing fogbow as the mist drifted and
thickened. A faint supernumerary bow was visible at times, as well
as a reddish tinge on the upper portion of the bow. A small gathering
of other hikers on the peak turned into a short impromptu lecture about
meteorological optics and the beauties of nature, despite not being
able to see a panoramic view of the valley below!

Cloud or fog droplets (usually no more than 100 microns in
diameter) are much smaller than the rain drops producing rainbows.
These tiny cloud droplets result in a bow that’s very broad compared to
the bow formed by rain drops. Thus, fogbow colors are pale because the
individual colors overlap. Note that unlike a rainbow, there’s very
little color or tone gradation in fogbows. Photos taken on October 12,
2021.
* Hawksbill Mountain, Virginia Coordinates: 38.5542, -78.3967

Related EPODs

Fogbow on Hawksbill Mountain, Virginia Lunar Iridescent Clouds
and Saturn Green Flash Observed Through Archway of Torre della
Meloria Spider Web Refraction Double Rainbow over Freital,
Germany Archive - Jack-O'-Lantern Sun
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 1 day, 20 hours, 43 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)