STS070-705-94
| NASA Photo ID | STS070-705-94 |
| Focal Length | 250mm |
| Date taken | 1995.07.16 |
| Time taken | 08:12:30 GMT |
Cloud masks available for this image:
Spacecraft nadir point: 26.0° N, 6.1° E
Photo center point: 26.5° N, 7.0° E
Photo center point: 26.5° N, 7.0° E
Nadir to Photo Center: Northeast
Spacecraft Altitude: 155 nautical miles (287km)
Country or Geographic Name: | ALGERIA |
Features: | TIFERNINE DUNES, MTS. |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 0 (no clouds present) |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 42° |
Sun Azimuth: | 84° |
Camera: | Hasselblad |
Focal Length: | 250mm |
Camera Tilt: | 22 degrees |
Format: | 5046: Kodak, natural color positive, Lumiere 100/5046, ASA 100, standard base |
Film Exposure: | Normal |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3963 pixels | 3940 pixels | No | No | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 640 pixels | 636 pixels | No | No | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 640 pixels | 480 pixels | No | No | ISD 1 | Download Image |
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Image Caption: STS070-705-094 Tifernine Dunes, Algeria July 1995
The Tassili N' Ajjer of southeastern Algeria consists of large areas of sand dunes and substantial areas of sandstone bedrock outcrops. This photograph vividly displays the differences between these two major landforms. The orange, complex, linear Tifernine Dunes with superimposed star dunes were named for the intermittently-flowing, south-to-north Tifernine watercourse along the southwestern extent of the dunes. This very distinctive alignment of sand dunes provides Space Shuttle astronauts a land reference in the much larger Sahara Desert. The dark, weathered sandstone rocks that border the Tifernine Dunes to the east and southwest have deep, narrow ravines that comprise a well-entrenched drainage pattern through the higher elevations of the plateau southwest of the dune field. This erosion process began millions of years ago when the climate was much wetter. This region now receives less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of rainfall annually.
Tifernine Dunes, central Algeria (north at bottom)
The southern half (about 70 miles in this view) of the Tifernine dunes of east-central Algeria appears on this view. The Tifernine dune-sea is one of the more dramatic features visible from the Shuttle when overflying the Sahara Desert.
The dunes lie in a basin of dark-colored rocks heavily cut by winding stream courses (top, top right). Very occasional storms allow the streams to erode the dark rocks and transport the sediment to the basin. Westerly winds then mould the stream sediments into the complex dune shapes so well displayed here.
The Tassili N' Ajjer of southeastern Algeria consists of large areas of sand dunes and substantial areas of sandstone bedrock outcrops. This photograph vividly displays the differences between these two major landforms. The orange, complex, linear Tifernine Dunes with superimposed star dunes were named for the intermittently-flowing, south-to-north Tifernine watercourse along the southwestern extent of the dunes. This very distinctive alignment of sand dunes provides Space Shuttle astronauts a land reference in the much larger Sahara Desert. The dark, weathered sandstone rocks that border the Tifernine Dunes to the east and southwest have deep, narrow ravines that comprise a well-entrenched drainage pattern through the higher elevations of the plateau southwest of the dune field. This erosion process began millions of years ago when the climate was much wetter. This region now receives less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of rainfall annually.
Tifernine Dunes, central Algeria (north at bottom)
The southern half (about 70 miles in this view) of the Tifernine dunes of east-central Algeria appears on this view. The Tifernine dune-sea is one of the more dramatic features visible from the Shuttle when overflying the Sahara Desert.
The dunes lie in a basin of dark-colored rocks heavily cut by winding stream courses (top, top right). Very occasional storms allow the streams to erode the dark rocks and transport the sediment to the basin. Westerly winds then mould the stream sediments into the complex dune shapes so well displayed here.
