ISS006-E-45935
| NASA Photo ID | ISS006-E-45935 |
| Focal Length | 180mm |
| Date taken | 2003.04.11 |
| Time taken | 08:48:20 GMT |
Resolutions offered for this image:
540 x 405 pixels 1000 x 658 pixels 3032 x 2064 pixels 639 x 435 pixels
540 x 405 pixels 1000 x 658 pixels 3032 x 2064 pixels 639 x 435 pixels
Cloud masks available for this image:
Spacecraft nadir point: 20.7° N, 41.9° E
Photo center point: 18.5° N, 41.0° E
Photo center point by machine learning:
Photo center point: 18.5° N, 41.0° E
Photo center point by machine learning:
Nadir to Photo Center: South
Spacecraft Altitude: 209 nautical miles (387km)
Camera: | Kodak DCS760c Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 180mm |
Camera Tilt: | 34 degrees |
Format: | 3060E: 3060 x 2036 pixel CCD, RGBG array |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 540 pixels | 405 pixels | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image | |
| 1000 pixels | 658 pixels | No | No | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 3032 pixels | 2064 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 639 pixels | 435 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
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Image Caption: Above and Under the Red Sea:
This unique photograph of shallow Red Sea waters off the coast of Saudi Arabia gives us a glimpse of both the coral reefs under the surface, and the texture and movements of surface waters. On the left side of the image we see through the water column to the reefs below the surface. On the right side of the image, the sun reflects off of microscopic oily films formed by a combination of natural biological sources and human activities on the sea surface. The films are concentrated by surface water movements and variably dampen surface capillary waves, which effect how the sun's light is reflected. This creates patterns of brighter and darker reflections when viewed from orbit. These patterns trace the complex surface water dynamics along the coast.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden include over 17,400 km2 of coral reefs, or 6% of the world's total (World Atlas of Coral Reefs: //www.unep-wcmc.org/marine/coralatlas/). The World Resources Institute has estimated that 60% of the reefs in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf are threatened by coastal development, overfishing, and the threat of oil spills by the heavy tanker traffic. The stretch of reefs shown here is near Qutu Island, south of Al-Qunfudhah, and is relatively isolated compared to other reefs in the region.
This unique photograph of shallow Red Sea waters off the coast of Saudi Arabia gives us a glimpse of both the coral reefs under the surface, and the texture and movements of surface waters. On the left side of the image we see through the water column to the reefs below the surface. On the right side of the image, the sun reflects off of microscopic oily films formed by a combination of natural biological sources and human activities on the sea surface. The films are concentrated by surface water movements and variably dampen surface capillary waves, which effect how the sun's light is reflected. This creates patterns of brighter and darker reflections when viewed from orbit. These patterns trace the complex surface water dynamics along the coast.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden include over 17,400 km2 of coral reefs, or 6% of the world's total (World Atlas of Coral Reefs: //www.unep-wcmc.org/marine/coralatlas/). The World Resources Institute has estimated that 60% of the reefs in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf are threatened by coastal development, overfishing, and the threat of oil spills by the heavy tanker traffic. The stretch of reefs shown here is near Qutu Island, south of Al-Qunfudhah, and is relatively isolated compared to other reefs in the region.
