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.


Cumulonimbus Cloud, Rainbow and Central Bohemian Uplands

August 10, 2021

Veselý-epod

Photographer: Lukáš Veselý
Summary Author: Lukáš Veselý

The photo panorama above shows an impressive view of a distant
cumulonimbus cloud and a double rainbow as observed from the
village of Lhota in the Czech Republic, on May 17, 2021. In the
foreground and mid-ground are some of the volcanic hills of the
Central Bohemian Uplands. At left is the highest of these hills,
known as Milešovka (2,746 ft or 837 m). This is the windiest place
in the Czech Republic. In German, it’s called Thunder Mountain. No
wonder such a thunderstorm formed here. Actually, this storm cloud
built up much further to the west. I snapped the picture soon after it
passed my location – the camera is facing east. Note the reverse color
order of dimmer secondary rainbow.

Photo details: Panorama from 4 columns and 3 rows; exposure bracketing
needed for preserving highlights; horizontal field of view about 130°.
* Lhota village, Czech Republic Coordinates: 50.5126975, 13.9025789

Related EPODs

Cumulonimbus Cloud, Rainbow and Central Bohemian Uplands 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
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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, 4 days, 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.


Little People of Blue Wonder Canyon

September 10, 2021

SidestepTheLittlePeopleOfBlueWonder

SidestepSlotStalagmiteEditedForBayPhoto

Photographer: Stan Wagon

Summary Author: Stan Wagon

The slot canyon known as West Wahweap, in Grand Staircase
Escalante National Monument, Utah, has a side canyon called Blue
Wonder. This name supposedly arises because the reflected sky creates
blue tones in the depths of the generally white sandstone canyon walls.

The Entrada Sandstone forming the walls is very soft, and the rare
rains that fall results in some interesting shapes. Note the diorama of
sandstone stalagmites having seemingly human forms (top photo).
These stalagmites may only last a few months before the elements
(rain, wind, frost) break them down. The bottom photo shows an extended
“finger” of one such fragile stalagmite. Top photo taken on April 18,
2021; bottom photo taken on November 11, 2019.

Photo details: Apple iPhone 11 Pro camera; 4.3 mm lens; 1/60-second
exposure; f/1.8; ISO 125.
* Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah Coordinates:
37.4047, -111.6841

Related EPODs

Little People of Blue Wonder Canyon Monument Rocks in
Northwestern Kansas Star trails from Inside the Caldera at Nisyros
Archive - Erta Ale, Ethiopia Archive - Ribeira da Janela,
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Geology Links

* Earthquakes
* Geologic Time
* Geomagnetism
* General Dictionary of Geology
* Mineral and Locality Database
* Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
* This Dynamic Earth
* USGS
* 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 1 week, 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 - Colorful Leaf Layers

October 09, 2021

6a0105371bb32c970b01bb0949160c970d

Every weekend we present a notable item from our archives.

This EPOD was originally published October 25, 2016.

October 2016 Viewer's Choice Photographer: Sylvie Pighini
Summary Authors: Sylvie Pighini; Jim Foster

Shown above is a European beech ( Fagus sylvatica) in
Schönbrunn Park, Vienna, Austria, surrounded by its recently shed
leaves, which here are differentiated by color. While it's not uncommon
for a tree to have leaves of two color hues, it's odd that the
different colors are so stratified. In general, deciduous trees in
Europe show less color in autumn than their North American or Asian
counterparts. Reds are rather rare and yellow or gold is the
predominant color. Geography plays a major role in why this is the
case.

The emerald green of the grass strip separating the newly fallen leaves
from the first fallen ones is perhaps the most eye-catching color. In
the foreground at top the still green leaves of a maple can be seen.
Photo taken on November 23, 2014.

Photo Details: Nikon D3000 camera; AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm
lens; f/3.5-5.6 G ED II; ISO 200; 55mm; ƒ/5.6; 1/30 sec.
exposure; Retouched using Lightroom.
* Schönbrunn Park, Austria Coordinates: 48.184516, 16.311865


Related EPODs

Archive - Colorful Leaf Layers Archive - Monarch Butterfly and
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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 5 weeks, 2 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.


Wind Doesn't Break a Tree that Bends

November 10, 2021

Menashe_tree_Picture1

Menashe_tree_Picture2

Photographer: Menashe Davidson

Summary Author: Menashe Davidson

Wind is an important factor that should be considered when selecting
the right tree for a planting site. When branches are continually bent
in one direction by prevailing winds, they become "wind
trained" or “flagged” and hold their position permanently.
Wind-resistant plants and shrubs have flexible stems that allow them to
bend and sway without breaking. Because a tree’s instinct is to grow
upward, a small degree of leaning is corrected over time without any
harm to its strength. But certain tree species in locations with a
constant buffeting from the wind, from a specific direction, will
result in trunks that lean to one side.

The trunk is the sturdy portion of the tree, it’s wooden axis, that
connects the leafy crown with the root system, keeping the entire
system upright. Although a tree’s heartwood is strong enough to
support enormous weight and remain flexible enough to bend without
breaking, bending can be affected by the density of the wood, its age
and factors including soil creep and even human interference.

The above photos, taken in September 2021, demonstrate the shape of
trunk growth of two different species planted in Rishon LeZion Park,
Israel. The trees shown at top with the relatively straight vertical
growth are Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River red gum), and the bent
ones in the bottom photo are Tamaris aphylla (Nile Tamarisk).
* Rishon LeZion Park, Israel Coordinates: 31.973001, 34.792501

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Colorful Leaf Layers
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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 9 weeks, 5 days, 22 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.


Analemma Observed in Taipei, Taiwan

December 10, 2021

Analemma1630_0923_169

Photographer: Meiying Lee
Summary Authors: Meiying Lee; Jim Foster
This analemma was captured in Taipei, Taiwan, from September 22,
2020 to September 23, 2021. All images were shot at 4:30 p.m. local
time, using a solar filter, from the same viewing platform on a
hillside east of Taipei. Each white dot represents the position of the
Sun. The summer solstice is at upper right, and the winter solstice
at lower left. Note that because of Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt,
the figure 8 appears stretched out. Also, if Earth had a circular
orbit, both lobes of this figure 8 would be the same size.

Due to heavy winter and spring rains and frequent summer afternoon
thunderstorms, out of 46 trips to this location only 30 images were
usable, resulting in uneven gaps in the analemma. Therefore, this
analemma also documents the afternoon weather in Taipei during the
course of these 12-months. Note that the tall building in the
foreground is Taipei 101 (1,667 ft or 508 m).

Photo details: Images composed by stacking in Startrails.
* Taipei, Taiwan Coordinates: 25.033611, 121.565

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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 5 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)