< ISS028-E-35137 >
| NASA Photo ID | ISS028-E-35137 |
| Focal Length | 200mm |
| Date taken | 2011.08.30 |
| Time taken | 21:21:37 GMT |
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 664 pixels 540 x 359 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4288 x 2848 pixels 640 x 425 pixels
1000 x 664 pixels 540 x 359 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4288 x 2848 pixels 640 x 425 pixels
Spacecraft nadir point: 37.0° N, 117.9° W
Photo center point: 36.4° N, 118.0° W
Photo center point by machine learning:
Photo center point: 36.4° N, 118.0° W
Photo center point by machine learning:
Nadir to Photo Center: South
Spacecraft Altitude: 205 nautical miles (380km)
Country or Geographic Name: | USA-CALIFORNIA |
Features: | OWENS LAKE, HALOPHILIC BACTERIA, KEELER, OLANCHA, LONE PINE |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 10 (1-10)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 55° |
Sun Azimuth: | 221° |
Camera: | Nikon D2Xs Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 200mm |
Camera Tilt: | 10 degrees |
Format: | 4288E: 4288 x 2848 pixel CMOS sensor, RGBG imager color filter |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 pixels | 664 pixels | No | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 540 pixels | 359 pixels | Yes | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | Yes | Yes | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 4288 pixels | 2848 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 425 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
Download Packaged File
Download a Google Earth KML for this Image
View photo footprint information
No GeoTIFF is available for this photo.Image Caption: Owens Lake, California
Note: This caption refers to the image versions labeled "NASA's Earth Observatory web site".
This astronaut photograph highlights the mostly dry bed of Owens Lake, located in the Owens River Valley between the Inyo Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. Shallow groundwater, springs, and seeps support minor wetlands and a central brine pool. Two bright red areas along the margins of the brine pool indicate the presence of halophilic, or salt-loving organisms known as archaeans. Grey and white materials within the lake bed are exposed lakebed sediments and salt crusts. The towns of Olancha and Lone Pine are indicated by the presence of green vegetation indicating a more constant availability of water.
The present-day Owens Lake was part of a much larger lake and river system that existed during the Pleistocene Epoch (~ 3 million to ~12,000 years ago) along the current northeastern border of California with Nevada. Meltwater from alpine glaciers in the Sierra Nevada filled the regional valleys of the Basin and Range to form several glacial lakes that were ancestral to the now-dry lakebeds (or playas) of Owens, Searles Lake, and China Lake.
While Searles and China Lakes dried out due to regional changes to a hotter and drier climate over thousands of years, Owens Lake became desiccated largely due to the diversion of Owens River water in the early 20th century to serve the needs of the City of Los Angeles, CA located 266 kilometers to the south. Following complete desiccation of the lakebed in 1926, significant amounts of windblown dust were produced - indeed, the term "Keeler fog" was coined by residents of the now largely abandoned town on the eastern side of Owens Lake due to the dust.
In addition to adverse health effects on local residents, dust from Owens Lake has been linked to visibility reduction in nearby national parks, forests, and wilderness areas. Recently, efforts to control dust evolution from the lakebed have been undertaken by the City of Los Angeles.
Note: This caption refers to the image versions labeled "NASA's Earth Observatory web site".
This astronaut photograph highlights the mostly dry bed of Owens Lake, located in the Owens River Valley between the Inyo Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. Shallow groundwater, springs, and seeps support minor wetlands and a central brine pool. Two bright red areas along the margins of the brine pool indicate the presence of halophilic, or salt-loving organisms known as archaeans. Grey and white materials within the lake bed are exposed lakebed sediments and salt crusts. The towns of Olancha and Lone Pine are indicated by the presence of green vegetation indicating a more constant availability of water.
The present-day Owens Lake was part of a much larger lake and river system that existed during the Pleistocene Epoch (~ 3 million to ~12,000 years ago) along the current northeastern border of California with Nevada. Meltwater from alpine glaciers in the Sierra Nevada filled the regional valleys of the Basin and Range to form several glacial lakes that were ancestral to the now-dry lakebeds (or playas) of Owens, Searles Lake, and China Lake.
While Searles and China Lakes dried out due to regional changes to a hotter and drier climate over thousands of years, Owens Lake became desiccated largely due to the diversion of Owens River water in the early 20th century to serve the needs of the City of Los Angeles, CA located 266 kilometers to the south. Following complete desiccation of the lakebed in 1926, significant amounts of windblown dust were produced - indeed, the term "Keeler fog" was coined by residents of the now largely abandoned town on the eastern side of Owens Lake due to the dust.
In addition to adverse health effects on local residents, dust from Owens Lake has been linked to visibility reduction in nearby national parks, forests, and wilderness areas. Recently, efforts to control dust evolution from the lakebed have been undertaken by the City of Los Angeles.
