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.


Red Sprites and Airglow

January 22, 2020

RedSprites_LaSilla_bardon19

Photographer: Zdenek Bardon
Summary Author: Zdenek Bardon

Shown above is an image of red sprites taken from the ESO
observatory at La Silla, Chile. A huge thunderstorm complex to the
east, in Argentina, offered an opportunity to capture these seldom
observed sprites. This wasn’t a simple endeavor as the storm was
roughly 250 miles (400 km) distant, and the flashes could barely be
detected by the naked eye. Red sprites are transient luminescent
events (TLEs) in the upper atmosphere that sometimes occur as a
result of lightning generated by active thunderstorms.

On this image, in addition to the red sprites, it’s possible to see
reddish-green airglow (above the red sprites) and a meteor (left
center) streaking over the Atacama landscape. Image acquired on
November 25, 2019.

Photo Details: Camera: NIKON D810A; Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Classic 9.1 (Macintosh); Exposure Time: 15.000s; Aperture: ƒ/1.4; ISO
equivalent: 6400; Focal Length (35mm): 28; Lens: Zeiss Otus 1.4/28
ZF.2. Image made by stacking eight separate images.
* La Silla Observatory, Chile Coordinates: -29.2612, -70.7313

Related EPODs

Red Sprites and Airglow Double Rainbow Over LaJolla, California
Encore - Green Flash Turning Blue Paraselene and Pooch
Alpenglow and Moonrise Anticrepuscular Rays Observed Over Miami
Beach, Florida
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 15 hours, 4 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

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.


Encore - Praying Mantis in Colombian Copal

February 22, 2020

Capture


Mantis

Today and every Saturday Earth Science Picture of the Day invites you
to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD
that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers' Choice
polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating
images.

Photographer: Mila Zinkova
Summary Author: Mila Zinkova

May 2014 Viewer's Choice The photo above features a praying
mantis encased in a very small piece of Colombian copal. Much
smaller insects can also be seen in the same piece of amber. Amber
copal is a product of tree resin, but it's typically younger and
softer than true amber. How old is Colombian copal? It's not known for
sure. Some believe it could be 200 years old, while others think it
could be millions of years old. In 2007, the American Museum of
Natural History published an article about an extinct stingless
orchid bee found in Colombian copal. The authors of the article
referred to the bee as a fossil. In 2013, scientists tried to
extract DNA from a mantis preserved in Colombian copal. However,
they were unable to obtain any convincing evidence for the preservation
of ancient DNA and concluded that DNA isn't preserved in this type of
material. Their results raise further doubts about extracting DNA from
fossil insects in amber, many millions of years older than copal. So
according to their study Jurassic Park is extremely improbable if
not impossible.

The bottom photo shows the same piece of Colombian copal but
with mantis hatchlings aboard. These hatchlings weren't created from
the DNA of their long-ago entrapped predecessor but rather hatched in
the normal way -- and found in my backyard.

Related EPODs

Encore - Praying Mantis in Colombian Copal Love Nest: Build it
and She Will Come (maybe) Birds on the Move Crown-of-Thorns
Starfish Encore - Spider Webs in Dominican Amber Archive -
Feeding Frenzy
More...

Animal Links

* Animal Diversity Web
* ARKive
* BirdLife International
* Bug Guide
* Discover Life
* Integrated Taxonomic Information System
* Microbial Life Resources
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the
-
Universities Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 4 weeks, 3 days, 15 hours, 5 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

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 - Tutukaka Coast From Frying Pan Corner Lookout

March 22, 2020

Frying pan corner for EPOD

Each Sunday we present a notable item from our archives. This EPOD was
originally published March 20, 2014.

Photographer: Phillip Lachman
Summary Author: Phillip Lachman

On a recent trip to the North Island of New Zealand, we came across
this magnificent sight at a spot called Frying Pan Corner Lookout. It
affords wonderful views over Ngunguru sandspit, part of the
Tutukaka Harbor and coastline.

The Tutukaka Coast is only about 12 km (7.5 mi) long but it's 12 km
of stunning scenery featuring rocky shores, pristine white
sand beaches and coastal bush walks. The jewels in its crown, and a
paradise for divers, are the famous islands of the Poor Knights
Marine Reserve. The volcanic origin of these islands 11 million
years ago as part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, provides spectacular
drop-offs, walls, caves, arches and tunnels, all
inhabited by an amazing array of underwater life.

The town of Tutukaka nestles at the head of its sheltered harbor,
providing a popular base for game fishing, diving and scenic cruises.
Photo taken on January 1, 2014.
* Tutukaka, New Zealand Coordinates: -35.6104, 174.524225

Related EPODs

Archive - Tutukaka Coast From Frying Pan Corner Lookout
Differential Erosion on Ice Path of the Sun on the Days of the
Equinox and Solstice Yosemite Falls in Winter Rombalds Moor
Archive - Sheep Mountain Anticline
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 8 weeks, 4 days, 14 hours, 5 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

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.


Decrease of Air Pollution During the Time of Confinement

June 22, 2020

Madrid Towers seen without pollution - Domingo Pestana

Photographer: Domingo Pestana
Summary Author: Domingo Pestana

This composite image shows the great decrease in air pollution in
the city of Madrid, Spain, due to COVID-19 confinement. The upper
image was taken during sunset on April 2, 2020, almost 3 weeks after
the start of the confinement. As viewed from where I live in Alcalá
de Henares, some 17 mi (25 km) from Madrid, the Madrid towers are quite
clear.

The bottom image was taken a year ago from the same site, the balcony
of my home, during sunrise on March 21, 2019. You can easily see the
thick layer of pollution over Madrid. Note that this image is composed
of three separate photos to show how the Moon disappears within the
layers of pollution and haze, long before reaching the horizon.
* Alcalá de Henares, Spain Coordinates: 40.4820, -3.3635

Related EPODs

Decrease of Air Pollution During the Time of Confinement Encore
- Aurora Borealis from Alaska Solar Halo Over Thessaloniki, Greece
Encore - Development of a Lightning Strike One View, Four
Rainbows Anticrepuscular Rays and Lunar Eclipse
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 21 weeks, 5 days, 16 hours, 4 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

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.


Bolt over Dehradun, India

July 22, 2020

Capture
Photographer: Sanjeev Kumar Yadav
Summary Author: Sanjeev Kumar Yadav
After a very hot day, suddenly dark clouds started gathering and before
long a thunderstorm rolled into Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. It
was raining lightly as I walked to the terrace, took out my camera from
my bag and put it on a tripod. When cloud-to-ground lighting lit up
the sky, I began to shoot. The photo above, taken on May 27, 2020,
captures one of the more violent bolts. Temperatures of leaders
such as this may reach 50,000 degrees F (28,000 C) or higher.

Photo Details: Camera - Canon EOS 7D Mark II; Exposure Time - 30.000s;
Aperture - ƒ/6.3; ISO equivalent - 160; Focal Length - 15.0mm.
* Dehradun, India Coordinates: 30.318, 78.029

Related EPODs

Bolt over Dehradun, India Spray Droplets and Rainbow Colors
Earth Rainbow Changes in Istanbul Seascape from Morning to
Afternoon Crepuscular Rays Off La Palma, Canary Islands
Noctilucent Clouds Observed from Northeastern Germany
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 6 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

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.


Encore - Folded Rock on the Portuguese Vicentine Coast

August 22, 2020

DSC00058

Today and every Saturday Earth Science Picture of the Day invites you
to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD
that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers' Choice
polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating
images.

Photographer: Maria de Lurdes Fonseca
Summary Authors: Maria de Lurdes Fonseca; Stu Witmer
October 2014 Viewer's Choice Seen above is an excellent example of
folded rock on the Portuguese Vicentine coast near Almograve.
Folded rocks once were stratified, horizontal layers of sediment
that have become warped or folded when compressed. Being
sedimentary, the oldest rocks are at the bottom of the stack while
the youngest are on top. In the example above the youngest rock is in
the middle of the V and the oldest is at the apex, here buried by sand.
This particular arrangement is called a syncline. Near the bottom
right of the image you’ll note that the rock layers arch over like an
upside-down U. This is called an anticline with the older layers in
the middle. Some folds encompass entire mountain ranges and often occur
where tectonic plates collide. The Alps, Andes,
Himalayas and the Rocky Mountains are all folded mountain
ranges. Photo taken August 27, 2014.

Photo Details: Camera SONY DSC-W810; Focal Length: 4.6mm (35mm
equivalent: 26mm); Aperture: f/3.5; Exposure Time: 0.0080 s (1/125);
ISO equiv: 100; Software: Adobe Photoshop 7.0.
* Almograve, Portugal Coordinates: 37.628056,-8.795444

Related EPODs

Encore - Folded Rock on the Portuguese Vicentine Coast Archive
- Goblin Valley State Park, Utah Encore - Ghost Reef Fossil Find
Mexican Hat Sea Stacks off Aci Trezza, Italy Archive - More
Mesa
More...

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 5 weeks, 2 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

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.


EPOD 20th - Birds on the Move

September 22, 2020

Storni-di-Stormi

We’re celebrating 20 years of Earth Science Picture of the Day during
the month of September! Today’s photo features a popular EPOD from the
past. Thanks to all of our followers (on the blog, Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter) for supporting us. Thanks also to all of you who’ve
submitted your photos. We’re most appreciative. This EPOD was
originally published February 10, 2020.

Photographer: Marco Meniero
Summary Author: Marco Meniero

Shown above are images of flocks of starlings as observed earlier
this winter from the Viterbo Airport Control Tower in Viterbo, Italy.
Even if you live in the city, you’ve likely noticed the choreography of
bird flocks (most likely starlings or pigeons) as they twist and
turn across the sky. But what drives their movements? How do they
coordinate with their feathered flight companions? Why is it that
birds of a feather flock together?

In a study published several years ago in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University
of Warwick suggest that these birds move in such a way as to achieve
the maximum density allowing them to still have a good view of their
surrounding space. This will occur they receive light from many
directions, a condition known as marginal opacity. It seems to be
that changes in the relationship between shadow and light alert the
birds to fly in such a way to achieve this. The scientists decided to
test their hypothesis using a computer simulation.

Virtual starlings were therefore been programmed to follow their
closest companion and move to the area of the flock from which they
have access to the greatest amount of information. The results of the
experiment showed that programmed in this way, the virtual starlings
join in compact groups and move in a way that’s superimposable to how
real starlings are observed to fly. Note also the rose-colored Belt
of Venus and the rising of the Earth’s shadow. Photo taken on January
15, 2020.
* Viterbo, Italy Coordinates: 42.4207, 12.1077

Related EPODs

EPOD 20th - Birds on the Move EPOD 20th - The Puddling of
Butterflies Leafcutter Bee Crucial Corbiculae
Bioluminescence off Southern California Encore - Diatom Colony
More...

Animal Links

* Animal Diversity Web
* ARKive
* BirdLife International
* Bug Guide
* Discover Life
* Integrated Taxonomic Information System
* Microbial Life Resources
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the
-
Universities Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 4 weeks, 20 hours, 20 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

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.


Rainbow Wheel Above Josefov, Czech Republic

October 22, 2020

IMG_2144_rainbow_antikerpu_bardon20

Photographer: Zdenek Bardon
Summary Authors: Zdenek Bardon; Jim Foster
This photo shows an eye-catching rainbow with anticrepuscular rays
as observed near Josefov, in the Czech Republic. Bows such as this are
referred to as rainbow wheels because the rays are spoke-like,
passing through both the primary and secondary rainbow (barely
visible here). The antisolar point is the focus of the rainbow and
in addition, is where the rays appear to converge. Photo taken on
October 6, 2020, at 14:39 UT.

Photo Details: Camera Apple iPhone XS; Exposure Time 0.0006s (1/1610);
Aperture ƒ/1.8; ISO equivalent 25; Focal Length (35mm) 26
* Josefov, Czech Republic Coordinates: 50.324844, 15.909594

Related EPODs

Rainbow Wheel Above Josefov, Czech Republic Sun Pillar at Dawn
Above Turin, Italy Encore - Exploding Meteor Over Northern Michigan
EPOD 20th - Circumhorizontal Arc Above Pilesgrove, New Jersey
EPOD 20th - Anticrepuscular Rays Observed Over Miami Beach, Florida
EPOD 20th - Shimmer Tree
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 8 weeks, 2 days, 20 hours, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)