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.


Icy Drops

January 15, 2020

Gocce-ghiacciate

Photographer: Marco Meniero
Summary Author: Marco Meniero

These icy drops were photographed on the slopes of Monte Serra
(Pisa), Italy, approximately 1,312 ft (400 m) above sea level. The
liquid drops had settled along the bottom of a twig during a rain
event that occurred the previous day. That night as temperatures fell,
the drops froze in place, resulting in these transparent ice
lenses.

The drops' initial ellipsoidal shape, due to the pull of
gravity, was kept in equilibrium until the process of
solidification began. But the subsequent gradual increase in volume
( water expands as it freezes), caused the still mostly liquid drops
to slide downwards, forming the characteristic icicle pendant shape.
The high transparency of the ice indicates the absence of air inside
the crystalline structure, due to the slow dissipation of heat
during the freezing process. Photo taken on February 2, 2006.

Photo Details: Canon EOS 10D reflex camera; EF100 mm; f / 2.8; macro
lens closed at f / 3.5; 1/250 exposure time; 200 ISO.
* Monte Serra, Italy Coordinates: 43.75121, 10.52613

Related EPODs

Icy Drops Snow Blankets Joshua Tree National Park Encore -
Lake Michigan Ice Cave Hexagonal Plate Snow Crystal Northern
Hemisphere Seasonal Snow Cover Map (December 20, 2019) Encore -
Frosted Globe
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 6 weeks, 4 days, 14 hours, 54 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 - Tufa Formations at Winnemucca Dry Lake, Nevada

February 15, 2020

Kupersmith tufa

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: John Kupersmith
Summary Author: John Kupersmith

May 2014 Viewer's Choice From a distance, these concentric circles
may resemble petroglyphs, but they're actually tufa
formations found at the south end of Winnemucca Dry Lake, Nevada.
They're situated along a bench that's a former shoreline of
prehistoric Lake Lahontan. Underwater springs brought
calcium in contact with the alkaline waters of the lake,
causing precipitation of calcium carbonate (tufa). Tufa can take
several forms. The ones pictured here are similar to overturned barrels
with the inner structure of concentric layers exposed. Photo taken on
March 30, 2014.
Photo Details: Sony RX10 camera; focal length equivalent 24mm; ISO 125;
1/500 sec. exposure; f/5.6.
* Winnemucca Lake, Nevada Coordinates: 40.111, -119.341

Related EPODs

Encore - Tufa Formations at Winnemucca Dry Lake, Nevada Archive
- Sulfur Sandstone Towers Landmannalaugar, Iceland Archive
- Soft Sandstone on the Oregon Coast Archive - Navajo National
Monument
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 3 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 - Causeway Caused Colors on Great Salt Lake

March 15, 2020

GSL Again

Each Sunday we present a notable item from our archives. This EPOD was
originally published March 7, 2014.

Photographer: Patrick Wiggins
Summary Authors: Patrick Wiggins; Brent Watson
Shown above is part of the south end of the Great Salt Lake (GSL)
in Utah. While flying in a small plane at an altitude of 580 m above
the lake's surface, the play of light from the purple and green lake
water against the blue and white sky quickly captured my attention. The
reason for the colorful contrasts is the causeway that connects the
west shore of Stansbury Island (seen on the left) to the west shore
of the lake. The causeway forms the north end of what has come to be
called Stansbury Bay. This earth-filed impoundment prevents the
exchange of lake water between the bay and the water to the north,
leading to a change of the bay's salinity. The change in salinity
and the chemicals added to the bay by a mineral extraction company to
speed evaporation result in the purplish colors. Photo taken on
February 24, 2014.

Photo Details: Camera: Apple iPhone 5; Lens: Apple; Focal Length:
4.12mm (35mm equivalent: 33mm); Aperture: f/2.4; Exposure Time: 0.0005
s (1/2008); ISO equiv: 50; Software: 7.0.4.
* Above Great Salt Lake, Utah Coordinate: 40.880572, -112.595300

Related EPODs

Archive - Causeway Caused Colors on Great Salt Lake Provo
Canyon’s Bridal Veil Falls The Bird Goddess of Lake Powell
Encore - Angel Falls Archive - Catastrophic Damage During the
Colorado Front Range Flood of September 11-13, 2013 Breakout Area
of Glacial Lake Missoula
More...

Hydrology Links

* Current Sea Surface Temperature
* NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery
* Ocean Color
* What is hydrology?
* Tides and Currents
* Water Resources of the United States
* World Waterfall Database
* The USGS Water Science School
* World Water Database
* The World’s Water
* USGS Surface Water Information Pages

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 7 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.


Umbrella Liverwort

June 15, 2020

DSCN9173 - Copy

Photographer: Kathy Arbuckle
Summary Author: Kathy Arbuckle

Is this some prehistoric tropical jungle on an untouched island? What
creatures roam among these palm trees? Well, this photo was taken
on the edge of my gravel driveway in the Spokane, Washington area.

I’m intrigued by the similarity between these 1/2 inch (12 mm) tall
mini-palms and the genuine stately tropical trees. This small-scale
version is a member of Marchantiophyta, a division of
non-vascular land plants. The Marchantia polymorpha is known as
the common liverwort or umbrella liverwort. These palm-like
structures are called gametophores. They grow up from a rosette of
thalli; low, flat, lobed leaf-type forms. The gametophores have
archegonia below their fronds that produce ova, or eggs that are
fertilized by the male antheridia of the liverwort. The
liverwort also reproduces asexually through the release of
lentil-shaped gemmae from cups on the tops of the thalli. When
struck by raindrops, the gemmae are scattered over a wide area to take
root and grow.

Found worldwide, from the tropics to the arctic, the liverwort lives in
damp habitats on rocks and soil. I even find it in my greenhouse where
it is somewhat of a horticultural weed. Often, Marchantia
Polymorpha is the first to appear after a wildfire has ravaged an
area. It grows and establishes itself, stabilizing areas, restoring the
health of the soil and then will disappear when other native species of
plants have become firmly re-established after a few years.

Also noteworthy is the fact that this liverwort produces a strong
anti-fungal, proven to be an effective treatment for skin and nail
ailments; such a beneficial and helpful organism, which isn't a palm
tree at all. Photo taken on June 4, 2018.

Photo Details: Camera: NIKON COOLPIX P90; Software: Nikon Transfer 1.3
W; Exposure Time: 0.013s (1/75); Aperture: ƒ/3.2; ISO equivalent: 100;
Focal Length (35mm): 41.
* Spokane, Washington Coordinates: 47.6588, -117.4260

Related EPODs

Umbrella Liverwort Frozen Sap of a Yellow Birch Tree Living
Stromatolites Oak Tree Leaves Nyctinasty in Ranunculus Flowers
Archive - Giant Amazon Lilies
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 20 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.


Earth Rainbow

July 15, 2020

P0919EPOD

Photographer: Nik Szymanek
Summary Author: Nik Szymanek
The image above features what I call an Earth Rainbow, an
artificial rainbow created during the spring season, in this case, when
local farmers here in southeastern England are irrigating onion
fields. Patience is required as the viewing geometry has to be correct.
On this afternoon the spraying nozzle was in an accessible part of the
field and the Sun at a suitable altitude to create a reasonably
high bow in the spray. The nozzle sweeps from side to side and a
gravity-operated chopping blade breaks up the flow to help spread
the water across the field. This means that the visible rainbow changes
on a continuous basis, especially as wind gusts also break up the flow.
Occasionally, the water drops become quite large, creating a
vibrant, colorful arc with a hint of supernumerary bands along the
primary rainbow’s inner edge. Photo taken on May 30, 2020.
Photo Details: Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II; Software Adobe Photoshop
21.0 (Windows); Exposure Time 0.0010s (1/1000); Aperture ƒ/7.1; ISO
equivalent 400; Lens 28-135mm; Focal Length 95.0mm.
* Boxted, U.K. Coordinates: 51.9627, 0.9094

Related EPODs

Earth Rainbow Changes in Istanbul Seascape from Morning to
Afternoon Crepuscular Rays Off La Palma, Canary Islands
Noctilucent Clouds Observed from Northeastern Germany Decrease
of Air Pollution During the Time of Confinement Encore - Aurora
Borealis from Alaska
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 25 weeks, 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.


Encore - Morning Glory Over Southeastern Brazil

August 15, 2020

1-CANON 007-003
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: Meire Ruiz
Summary Authors: Meire Ruiz; Jim Foster
October 2014 Viewer's Choice
The photo above shows a weather phenomenon known as a morning
glory, as viewed near Itanhaem, Brazil on November 11, 2013. This is a
type of roll cloud -- a detached storm cloud. In northern
Australia, Morning Glories occur in the Gulf of Carpentaria
during the month of October with some regularity. Though their
formation isn't completely understood, mesoscale circulation, such
as stiff sea/land breezes appear to be crucial to their
development. In different areas of the world, they've been observed to
form at times of day other than morning. Strong winds can accompany the
passage of these tubular clouds so beachgoers should heed their
approach. Compare this cloud to the Earth Science Picture of the
Day for October 2, 2014 showing a rolling fog.

Photo Details: Camera: Canon PowerShot SX40 HS; Focal Length: 4.3mm;
Aperture: f/4.0; Exposure Time: 0.0031 s (1/320); ISO equiv: 100.
* Itanhaem, Brazil Coordinates: -24.182778, -46.788889

Related EPODs

Encore - Morning Glory Over Southeastern Brazil Altocumulus
Formation Cirrus Rows Building Storm Near Belo Horizonte Brazil
Trade Winds and Clouds on La Palma Santa Ana Wave Clouds
More...

Cloud Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* The Cloud Appreciation Society
* Cloud Atlas
* Color and Light in Nature

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 4 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 - The Pyramids from Space

September 15, 2020

7Wonders

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 October 22, 2001.

Provided by: Earth Observatory, NASA GSFC
Summary author: Jim Foster

The Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu), one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of
the World, was captured last August by astronauts onboard Space Station
Alpha. King Tut would be impressed. This photo has a resolution of
approximately 7 meters - objects 7 meters or about 22 feet across can
be detected. Shadows cast by the Sun allow Khufu and two other large
pyramids, Khafre and Menkaure, to be fairly easily recognized on this
photo (center of image and inset at left). Because the Sphinx isn't
tall enough to cast a deep shadow, it can't be readily distinguished -
it's slightly above and to the right of Khufu.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest, yet the only surviving wonder
of the Seven Ancient Wonders. The pyramids are in Giza, a necropolis of
ancient Memphis, and today part of Greater Cairo, Egypt.

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 3 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.


Fuel for a Far-fetched Flight

October 15, 2020

Monarch female on blue aster

Photographer: Rob Sheridan
Summary Author: Rob Sheridan

The multigenerational migration of the monarch remains one of the
most wonderful and astounding mysteries of the insect world. During any
given year, the first generation of late spring emerges from their
chrysalis in central Mexico and flutters north. No single
generation can do the long northerly migration, but generation by
generation they progressively head north, feeding and laying
eggs on milkweeds, each adult living only about 6 weeks, for 4
or 5 generations. In the late summer, the season’s final generation is
born and begins the long flight home to warmer overwintering areas.
This final migratory generation lives far longer than prior generations
(up to 6 months) and completes the entire flight home from the northern
range. Many fall to predators and lack of fuel. Certain specific
late-season flowering plants feed them along their arduous journey.
Prominent among these in the northeast United States is the New
England blue aster ( Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), a late summer
and fall bloomer rich with nectar, favored by the final generation
of monarch-athletes. Shown here is one such migratory generation
monarch fueling up on a blue aster, preparing to continue the long
journey home.

Photo Details: Camera Apple iPhone 8; Software Windows Photo Editor
10.0.1; Exposure Time 0.0007s (1/1412); Aperture ƒ/1.8; ISO equivalent
20; Focal Length (35mm) 28
* Squantum, Massachusetts Coordinates: 42.300931, -71.010375

Related EPODs

Fuel for a Far-fetched Flight EPOD 20th - Birds on the Move
EPOD 20th - The Puddling of Butterflies Leafcutter Bee
Crucial Corbiculae Bioluminescence off Southern California
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

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