The cloud was found over the Caspian Sea. There is an interesting case study of how satellites can detect such phenomena.
Scientists used NASA's Terra satellite to watch the cloud as it moved towards land and then dissipated in order to learn more about how small it is.
The cloud was spotted at about 1,500 meters above the ground. The cloud's hard boundary was what made it stand out.
Satellite spies are watching huge clouds near Australia coast.
"Sharp edges are formed when dry, warm air coming from land collides with cold moist air over the ocean, and the cloud forms at that boundary," according to a NASA statement.
It's unusual to see this type of cloud in Eastern Europe, as opposed to over an ocean area, as the Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water. The sea is surrounded by a number of countries.
The cloud type can be seen off the west coast of Africa. He thinks the cloud could have been formed when warmer air from the Balkans hit the cold and moist air over the Caspian Sea.
After it was captured over the Caspian, the cloud dissipated. It moved northwest over the sea to the coast of Russia near Makhachkala. As the cloud moved over land, it dissipated.
Terra is an extremely long running Earth observation mission, having launched in December 1999 and continuing to operate in good health as it approaches the quarter century mark in space.
Terra allows researchers to track changes in the Earth's environment using the same sensors, allowing for measurement consistency. New satellites are sent aloft to capture different types of data, and to serve as a bit of redundant data for older missions.
NASA is working on a plan to refresh its fleet of older satellites, according to the agency's science and Earth science lead. Aqua and Aura are examples of older operations.
You can follow Elizabeth on the social networking site. We encourage you to follow us on social networking sites.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
