Simple facts
Where is it? Atlantic Ocean
What do you see in the photo? Vonkármánvortices streams flow from multiple islands
Which satellite took the photo? NASA’s Terra Satellite
When did you take it? May 20, 2015
This impressive satellite image shows several examples of a rare weather phenomenon known as the “von Kalman vortex.” Many of these swirling cloud trails are rarely seen at once over such a large area.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it occurs when vonkármán vortices encounter land, disrupt airflow and create “double rows of vortices that alternate in rotation directions.” These vortices then propagate downstream of the land and become visible when clouds get caught in them.
In this photo, Giant Cloud Swirl collectively covers an area of approximately 260,000 square miles (670,000 square km) and is one of the most widespread examples of simultaneous vortices seen to date, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.
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The most complicated vortex in the photo can be found in the vortex of Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago at the top of the image (see below). Here, highly concentrated clouds reveal exceptionally detailed movements of the disturbed air.
Related: See all the best images of Earth from Space
The less defined swirling trails can also be seen being kicked out of the Canary Islands of Spain. From left, these are: La Palma, El Hiero, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria. If you look closely (see below), you will see that the vortices of La Gomera and Tenerife interfere with each other and cancel out almost entirely.
Madeira and Canary Islands are one of the best places on the planet to see Von Kármán Vortices, according to the Meteorological Sanitation Satellite Exploitation Agency (Eumetsat). This is because they have high peaks, high temperatures and are reasonably separated from each continent.
These swirls are also commonly found in Guadalupe, a group of six French islands in the Caribbean, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. In rare cases, the swirls are also consistent with other phenomena, such as the distorted “double rainbow.”
Vortexes occur mostly in tropical climates, but can also be seen in the Arctic Circle, such as Bear Island in Svalbad.
According to Eumestat, on average, Von Kármán Vortices are created somewhere on the globe.
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