STS098-713-11 Click the photo number to access all resolutions available and the database record.
Particulates in the atmosphere shown here are thus a combination of industrial pollutants, fire smoke, and possibly volcanic emissions.
The bright sunglint point lies between the toe of Italy and the near cape of Sicily in this late afternoon, west-looking view. The coppery color to the glint reflects of the sea surface to give a slight orange tinge to atmosphere throughout the view. The cause is the pollutants in the air that scatter the red-orange wavelengths and are a sure indication to astronauts of smoke or smog in the air.
Astronaut photographs have shown repeatedly over the last 15 years that the main source of the Mediterranean air pollution is the heavily industrialized Po River valley of northern Italy. This relatively small area is by far the most regular supplier of pollutants in the Mediterranean basin. Typically, smog banks can be seen drifting slowly south down the Adriatic Sea until they splay west or east into the main basin. During the flight of STS98, pollution stretched from the source in the Po all the way to northern Spain where it was still so thick that it obscured the Ebro River valley from the astronauts' view.
