Cloud Vortex Streets

Credit: Credit: Jeff Schmaltz; MODIS Team; NASA, Posted on: Saturday, 1 May 2004, 06:00 CDT Download full size image

The Cape Verde Islands, off of North Africa's western coast in the Atlantic Ocean, cause cloud vortex streets to form in their wake, as is shown here in this true-color image. Wind moving across the scene gets disturbed by passing over and around the islands, which cause eddies to form. These eddies take the shape of vortices, and because the wind is all moving in the same general direction, the vortices line up into streets. These vortex streets are visible because of the clouds riding the winds.

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