< ISS067-E-248671 >
| NASA Photo ID | ISS067-E-248671 |
| Focal Length | 400mm |
| Date taken | 2022.08.05 |
| Time taken | 10:51:41 GMT |
5568 x 3712 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 5568 x 3712 pixels 640 x 427 pixels
Photo center point: 38.3° N, 15.7° E
Photo center point by machine learning: 38.27° N, 15.64° E
Country or Geographic Name: | SICILY |
Features: | STRAIT OF MESSINA, COAST, MESSINA, TYRRHENIAN SEA |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 10 (1-10)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 67° |
Sun Azimuth: | 177° |
Camera: | Nikon D5 Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 400mm |
Camera Tilt: | 34 degrees |
Format: | 5568E: 5568 x 3712 pixel CMOS sensor, 35.9 x 23.9 mm, total pixels: 21.33 million, Nikon FX format |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5568 pixels | 3712 pixels | No | No | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | Yes | No | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 5568 pixels | 3712 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 427 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
While orbiting over the Ionian Sea, an astronaut onboard the International Space Station (ISS) photographed the Strait of Messina (Messina Strait), a channel in the Mediterranean Sea that separates Sicily and Calabria. Extending about 32 kilometers (20 miles) in length, the Strait of Messina joins the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north and the Ionian Sea to the south. At its broadest point between Capo d' Ali and Punta Pellaro (out of frame to the south), the channel is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) wide and has an approximate depth of 250 meters (820 feet).
Waves that follow the tide from west to east are visible in the right half of the photo. These are caused by internal waves, a process where stratified water layers of changing density and increasing depth horizontally propagate beneath the water surface. The waves are illuminated by sunglint--an optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight is directly reflected off the water and into a satellite's sensor, or in this case, the astronaut's camera.
Alternating currents, relatively low water temperature, and high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen contribute to the region's aquatic biodiversity. The strait hosts several deep-sea fish species such as Sloane's viperfish (a predatory dragonfish) as well as commercially valuable fish like yellowtail and snapper. On the left side of the image, thin, white lines are likely ship wakes, some of which may belong to fishing boats.
Large water mammals like dolphins and whales have been spotted in the strait. The waters also support populations of black coral (Errina aspera)--the only species of this coral family found in the Mediterranean Sea--and gold coral. In addition to the abundance of marine life, the strait is part of a major migratory route for birds. It is regularly visited by honey buzzards, Eleonora's falcon, and long-legged buzzards.
