Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Photographic Highlights

ISS009 Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Photographic Highlights

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ISS009-E-5696 Plankton Bloom in Lake Titicaca: At an average elevation of 3,812 meters (12,507 feet), Lake Titicaca is one of the highest lakes in the world. The lake is positioned between two major ranges of the Andes Mountain chain and has very limited drainage. Because of the lack of drainage, the lake has accumulated sediments over the past 25,000 years. These sediment records are invaluable for paleoclimate research. The water level of the lake is still dependant on climate today and varies significantly in El Niño years.
The limited outflow of the lake allows for the accumulation of nutrients derived primarily from surrounding communities’ agricultural and sewage waste. The increased nutrient levels can lead to plankton blooms. This astronaut photograph, taken from the International Space Station, captures two such blooms along the eastern shoreline of the lake. Plankton blooms are not apparent in earlier astronaut photographs of Lake Titicaca, suggesting that there may also be a seasonal component to their appearance (see, for example, this earlier astronaut photograph of Lake Titicaca).

ISS009-E-16836 Ksudach Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia: Some of the world’s most active volcanoes make up the spine of the Kamchatka Peninsula in far east Russia. Kamchatka is the northwestern edge of the Pacific “ring of fire,” where earthquakes and volcanism are caused by ongoing subduction of the Pacific oceanic plate beneath the Eurasian plate.
This astronaut photograph profiles the summit area of Ksudach Volcano, also called Voniuchi Khrebet Volcano, in southern Kamchatka. White snow on the ridges in this image contrasts with the dark volcanic soils and highlights the well-developed radial drainage pattern down the slopes of the volcano. The summit area comprises overlapping calderas. Stübel Crater, located in the northern portion of the caldera complex, was the locus of the most recent eruption of the volcano, in 1907. The 1907 eruption of Ksudach Volcano is one of the largest ever recorded in Kamchatka.
Two lakes, Balshoe and Kraternoe (outlined), are located within calderas at the summit of Ksudach. These lakes, along with hot springs and the surrounding wilderness, make the Ksudach Volcano region a popular trekking destination. In the event of renewed volcanic activity, its remote location minimizes its potential hazard to humans.

ISS009-E-25357 Hurricane Jeanne: September 27, 2004 - Impressive cloud circulation patterns of Jeanne over the upper Florida Gulf coastline.

ISS009-E-22167 Hurricane Ivan Eye: September 11, 2004 - Approx. 150 southeast of Grand Cayman Island tracking northwest.

ISS009-E-22464 Hurricane Ivan, Banding: September 13, 2004 - Ivan was just off the western tip of Cuba entering the Gulf of Mexico.

ISS009-E-20440 Hurricane Frances: August 27, 2004 - This photo of Hurricane Frances was taken by Astronaut Mike Fincke aboard the International Space Station as he flew 230 statute miles above the storm at about 9 a.m. CDT Friday, Aug. 27, 2004. At the time, Frances was located 820 miles east of the Lesser Antilles in the Atlantic Ocean, moving west-northwest at 10 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour. Fincke, the NASA ISS Science Officer and Flight Engineer, and Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka are in the fifth month of a six-month flight aboard the Station.

ISS009-E-20438 Hurricane Frances: August 27, 2004 - Approx. 820 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

ISS009-E-20645 Hurricane Frances Eyewall: August 28, 2004 - Approx. 600 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

ISS009-E-20894 Hurricane Frances, Bands: August 30, 2004 - 400 miles east of the Puerto Rico.

ISS009-E-19682 Lake Maracaibo Duck Weed: Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo presents a complicated surface to interpret. The area is the largest oil producing region in the western hemisphere. Oil platforms and other infrastructure supporting the oil industry can be seen in the lake and along the coast. Oil slicks (very bright streaks) are common. Heavy ship traffic produces linear ship wakes. The vivid green streaks and swirls are patches of duck weed growth that has thrived on the lake this summer. The duck weed problem is so extensive that the Venezuelan government launched a massive campaign to remove it.
This image was taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station on August 23, 2004. Sunglint—sun light reflecting off the relatively smooth water surface—produces patterns that highlights water surface features and movements. Sunglint reflects brightly off oil slicks, ship wakes and water roughened variably by wind in this image. Rough surfaces like floating vegetation (duck weed) stand out against the smooth water.
An earlier view of the duckweed swirls in Lake Maracaibo was taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS).

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ISS009-E-5696	Plankton Bloom in Lake Titicaca: At an average elevation of 3,812 meters (12,507 feet), Lake Titicaca is one of the highest lakes in the world. The lake is positioned between two major ranges of the Andes Mountain chain and has very limited drainage. Because of the lack of drainage, the lake has accumulated sediments over the past 25,000 years. These sediment records are invaluable for paleoclimate research. The water level of the lake is still dependant on climate today and varies significantly in El Niño years. The limited outflow of the lake allows for the accumulation of nutrients derived primarily from surrounding communities’ agricultural and sewage waste. The increased nutrient levels can lead to plankton blooms. This astronaut photograph, taken from the International Space Station, captures two such blooms along the eastern shoreline of the lake. Plankton blooms are not apparent in earlier astronaut photographs of Lake Titicaca, suggesting that there may also be a seasonal component to their appearance (see, for example, this earlier astronaut photograph of Lake Titicaca).
ISS009-E-16836	Ksudach Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia: Some of the world’s most active volcanoes make up the spine of the Kamchatka Peninsula in far east Russia. Kamchatka is the northwestern edge of the Pacific “ring of fire,” where earthquakes and volcanism are caused by ongoing subduction of the Pacific oceanic plate beneath the Eurasian plate. This astronaut photograph profiles the summit area of Ksudach Volcano, also called Voniuchi Khrebet Volcano, in southern Kamchatka. White snow on the ridges in this image contrasts with the dark volcanic soils and highlights the well-developed radial drainage pattern down the slopes of the volcano. The summit area comprises overlapping calderas. Stübel Crater, located in the northern portion of the caldera complex, was the locus of the most recent eruption of the volcano, in 1907. The 1907 eruption of Ksudach Volcano is one of the largest ever recorded in Kamchatka. Two lakes, Balshoe and Kraternoe (outlined), are located within calderas at the summit of Ksudach. These lakes, along with hot springs and the surrounding wilderness, make the Ksudach Volcano region a popular trekking destination. In the event of renewed volcanic activity, its remote location minimizes its potential hazard to humans.
ISS009-E-25357	Hurricane Jeanne: September 27, 2004 - Impressive cloud circulation patterns of Jeanne over the upper Florida Gulf coastline.
ISS009-E-22167	Hurricane Ivan Eye: September 11, 2004 - Approx. 150 southeast of Grand Cayman Island tracking northwest.
ISS009-E-22464	Hurricane Ivan, Banding: September 13, 2004 - Ivan was just off the western tip of Cuba entering the Gulf of Mexico.
ISS009-E-20440	Hurricane Frances: August 27, 2004 - This photo of Hurricane Frances was taken by Astronaut Mike Fincke aboard the International Space Station as he flew 230 statute miles above the storm at about 9 a.m. CDT Friday, Aug. 27, 2004. At the time, Frances was located 820 miles east of the Lesser Antilles in the Atlantic Ocean, moving west-northwest at 10 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour. Fincke, the NASA ISS Science Officer and Flight Engineer, and Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka are in the fifth month of a six-month flight aboard the Station.
ISS009-E-20438	Hurricane Frances: August 27, 2004 - Approx. 820 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.
ISS009-E-20645	Hurricane Frances Eyewall: August 28, 2004 - Approx. 600 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.
ISS009-E-20894	Hurricane Frances, Bands: August 30, 2004 - 400 miles east of the Puerto Rico.
ISS009-E-19682	Lake Maracaibo Duck Weed: Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo presents a complicated surface to interpret. The area is the largest oil producing region in the western hemisphere. Oil platforms and other infrastructure supporting the oil industry can be seen in the lake and along the coast. Oil slicks (very bright streaks) are common. Heavy ship traffic produces linear ship wakes. The vivid green streaks and swirls are patches of duck weed growth that has thrived on the lake this summer. The duck weed problem is so extensive that the Venezuelan government launched a massive campaign to remove it. This image was taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station on August 23, 2004. Sunglint—sun light reflecting off the relatively smooth water surface—produces patterns that highlights water surface features and movements. Sunglint reflects brightly off oil slicks, ship wakes and water roughened variably by wind in this image. Rough surfaces like floating vegetation (duck weed) stand out against the smooth water. An earlier view of the duckweed swirls in Lake Maracaibo was taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS).