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Each of these swirling clouds is a result of a meteorological phenomenon known as a Karman vortex. These vortices appeared over Alexander Selkirk Island in the southern Pacific Ocean. Rising precipitously from the surrounding waters, the island's highest point is nearly a mile (1.6 km) above sea level. As wind-driven clouds encounter this obstacle, they flow around it to form these large, spinning eddies. Image taken 9/15/1999 by Landsat 7. [Source Images for earth energy mandalas and geographical information courtesy of U.S.Geological Survey National Center for EROS (Earth Resources Observation and Science) and NASA Landsat Project Science Office.]
Item #EM-0161
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