File:Gravity Waves off the West Coast of the United States (MODIS 2024-03-16).jpg
Original file (2,195 × 1,843 pixels, file size: 258 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)
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Summary
editDescriptionGravity Waves off the West Coast of the United States (MODIS 2024-03-16).jpg |
English: On March 14, 2024, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a stunning true-color image showing gravity waves off the California coast. Two sets of waves are visible, one north of the mud-colored San Francisco Bay and another set south of the Bay.
Atmospheric gravity waves are similar to waves that occur when the surface layer of a pond is disturbed, creating rolling waves that can be seen from above. However, gravity waves form when the atmosphere, not water, is disturbed. When air is forced upward by hills or mountains into a layer of stable air, the result in rolling waves of air, creating a ripple effect. This also can occur when different air masses interact, such as when air flows off land surfaces and over the relatively warm, moist air mass formed over bodies of water. Gravity waves typically form perpendicular to the wind as it blows off coastlines. Atmospheric waves are usually invisible, both to human eyes on Earth and in satellite imagery. An optical phenomenon called sunglint, which is present in this image, often makes such waves visible. Sunglint occurs when light is reflected directly back into the satellite sensor. This creates a silvery-toned patch, such as seen in this image, which can reveal air the motion of air within the sunglint area. |
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Date | Taken on 14 March 2024 | ||
Source |
Gravity Waves off the West Coast of the United States (direct link)
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Author | MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC |
This media is a product of the Terra mission Credit and attribution belongs to the mission team, if not already specified in the "author" row |
Licensing
editPublic domainPublic domainfalsefalse |
This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted". (See Template:PD-USGov, NASA copyright policy page or JPL Image Use Policy.) | ||
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Date/Time | Thumbnail | Dimensions | User | Comment | |
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current | 21:05, 16 March 2024 | 2,195 × 1,843 (258 KB) | OptimusPrimeBot (talk | contribs) | #Spacemedia - Upload of http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/images/image03162024_250m.jpg via Commons:Spacemedia |
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Metadata
This file contains additional information such as Exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may not fully reflect those of the original file. The timestamp is only as accurate as the clock in the camera, and it may be completely wrong.
Width | 2,195 px |
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Height | 1,843 px |
Bits per component |
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Pixel composition | RGB |
Orientation | Normal |
Number of components | 3 |
Horizontal resolution | 72 dpi |
Vertical resolution | 72 dpi |
Software used | Adobe Photoshop 22.1 (Macintosh) |
File change date and time | 14:46, 15 March 2024 |
Exif version | 2.31 |
Color space | Uncalibrated |
Unique ID of original document | F419D2F3DFB2AEC47FA381F4E5E4D03F |
Date and time of digitizing | 10:11, 15 March 2024 |
Date metadata was last modified | 10:46, 15 March 2024 |