Canaries - NASA Best Picture Of The Year

[woe10]

Look how close we are to the Sahara.

Photo: NASA.gov

A photograph of the Canary Islands  from space, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) spacecraft  has won the competition for best picture of the year organized by the U.S. space agency. In the photograph highlights the play of light on water showing wind patterns and wave conditions existing in the archipelago.

NASA explains, the Atlantic Ocean has a silver color or milky color much of the image as a result of solar reflection.  Sunlight reflected on the ocean surface reveals details on the surface of the water and about their circulation, from another point of view, is invisible .

Thus, it can be seen as the islands 'tails' extending to the southwest, a pattern that, according to experts, is the result of winds that pass 'near' the surface of the water.  Prevailing winds in the area are from the northeast, volcanic islands and create a kind of blockage and wind slowdown to redirect airflow .

Similarly, NASA notes that this wind, or lack of it, piling the waves, so the sea is rough in some places, while another remains calm.

This winning photograph has faced on his way to the final victory to other spectacular images showing the  Tibet or Alaska . It has also surpassed a favorite, reflecting pollution from international shipping.

'The Fortunate Islands' are thus brought the award for the second consecutive year.  archipelago and won the competition in 2013 with an image of the underwater volcano in full eruption of El Hierro .

[michop]

wonderful.. i was there like small child..best holiday ever