ISS002 Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Photographic Highlights

TOP PICKS

Click here to view the complete online collection of astronaut photography of Earth >>

ISS002-E-5677

ISS002-E-5677         Click the photo number to access all resolutions available and the database record.

Atolls in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia: This image of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, illustrates diversity in the morphology of atolls, one of the major types of coral reef formations. A typical atoll structure is a lagoon surrounded by a closed rim of cays and shallow spillways that control the exchange of water between the ocean and the lagoon. However, like human beings, this general scheme may vary according to the history of each individual atoll, resulting in a high diversity of morphology, especially for small atolls. On Nukutavake (138°48' W 19°17' S, 6.2 km2), what was a lagoon on is now dry and completely covered by vegetation. Images such as these are useful to classify and study the atolls according to their spatial structure. ISS002-E-5401= Atolls in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia: This image of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, illustrates diversity in the morphology of atolls, one of the major types of coral reef formations. A typical atoll structure is a lagoon surrounded by a closed rim of cays and shallow spillways that control the exchange of water between the ocean and the lagoon. However, like human beings, this general scheme may vary according to the history of each individual atoll, resulting in a high diversity of morphology, especially for small atolls. Pinaki (3.54 km2) has a drying shallow lagoon still connected to the ocean via a single narrow spillway. Images such as these are useful to classify and study the atolls according to their spatial structure.

< Back

This server is scheduled to be off starting the evening of Thursday October 10 and ending the morning of Tuesday October 15 to accommodate a scheduled power outage.

This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science Directorate. Recommended Citation: Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. "The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth." .
	NASA Responsible Official: Tracy Calhoun Curator: jsc-earthweb@mail.nasa.gov Contributors: Earth Sciences Web Team	National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center	International Space Station National Laboratory Last Update:
Server: 1