ISS027-E-34290
| NASA Photo ID | ISS027-E-34290 |
| Focal Length | 200mm |
| Date taken | 2011.05.16 |
| Time taken | 13:21:27 GMT |
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 576 pixels 540 x 311 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4256 x 2913 pixels 640 x 438 pixels
1000 x 576 pixels 540 x 311 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4256 x 2913 pixels 640 x 438 pixels
Cloud masks available for this image:
Spacecraft nadir point: 18.5° N, 53.6° E
Photo center point: 19.1° N, 53.2° E
Photo center point: 19.1° N, 53.2° E
Nadir to Photo Center: Northwest
Spacecraft Altitude: 186 nautical miles (344km)
Country or Geographic Name: | OMAN |
Features: | RUB AL KHALI, LINEAR DUNES, STAR DUNES, SALT FLATS |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 10 (1-10)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 20° |
Sun Azimuth: | 284° |
Camera: | Nikon D3S Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 200mm |
Camera Tilt: | 13 degrees |
Format: | 4256E: 4256 x 2832 pixel CMOS sensor, 36.0mm x 23.9mm, total pixels: 12.87 million, Nikon FX format |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 pixels | 576 pixels | No | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 540 pixels | 311 pixels | Yes | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | Yes | Yes | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 4256 pixels | 2913 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 438 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
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Image Caption: Ar Rub' al Khali Sand Sea, Arabian Peninsula
The Ar Rub' al Khali, also known as the "Empty Quarter", is a large region of sand dunes and interdune flats known as a sand sea (or erg). This astronaut photograph highlights a part of the Ar Rub' al Khali located close to its southeastern margin in the Sultanate of Oman. Reddish-brown, large linear sand dunes alternate with blue-gray interdune salt flats known as sabkhas at image left. The major trend of the linear dunes is transverse to northwesterly trade winds that originate in Iraq (known as the Shamal winds).
Formation of secondary barchan (crescent-shaped) and star dunes (dune crests in several directions originating from a single point, looking somewhat like a starfish from above) on the linear dunes is supported by southwesterly winds that occur during the monsoon season (Kharif winds). The long linear dunes begin to break up into isolated large star dunes to the northeast and east (image right). This is likely a result of both wind pattern interactions and changes in the sand supply to the dunes.
The Empty Quarter covers much of the south-central portion of the Arabian Peninsula, and with an area of approximately 660,000 km2 it is the largest continuous sand desert on Earth. The Empty Quarter is so called as the dominantly hyperarid climate and difficulty of travel through the dunes has not encouraged permanent settlement within the region. There is geological and archeological evidence to support cooler and wetter past climates in the region together with human settlement. This evidence includes exposed lakebed sediments, scattered stone tools, and the fossils of hippopotamus, water buffalo, and long-horned cattle.
The Ar Rub' al Khali, also known as the "Empty Quarter", is a large region of sand dunes and interdune flats known as a sand sea (or erg). This astronaut photograph highlights a part of the Ar Rub' al Khali located close to its southeastern margin in the Sultanate of Oman. Reddish-brown, large linear sand dunes alternate with blue-gray interdune salt flats known as sabkhas at image left. The major trend of the linear dunes is transverse to northwesterly trade winds that originate in Iraq (known as the Shamal winds).
Formation of secondary barchan (crescent-shaped) and star dunes (dune crests in several directions originating from a single point, looking somewhat like a starfish from above) on the linear dunes is supported by southwesterly winds that occur during the monsoon season (Kharif winds). The long linear dunes begin to break up into isolated large star dunes to the northeast and east (image right). This is likely a result of both wind pattern interactions and changes in the sand supply to the dunes.
The Empty Quarter covers much of the south-central portion of the Arabian Peninsula, and with an area of approximately 660,000 km2 it is the largest continuous sand desert on Earth. The Empty Quarter is so called as the dominantly hyperarid climate and difficulty of travel through the dunes has not encouraged permanent settlement within the region. There is geological and archeological evidence to support cooler and wetter past climates in the region together with human settlement. This evidence includes exposed lakebed sediments, scattered stone tools, and the fossils of hippopotamus, water buffalo, and long-horned cattle.
