Pic Of The Day 17th September

Soldato
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Here
Todays pic is another close to home view, imo an awe inspiring impressive view of our own planet.

isabel2_terra.jpg


Hurricane Isabel Approaches

Where will Hurricane Isabel go? One of the stronger storm systems of modern times appears headed for one the more populated seaboards on planet Earth -- the east coast of the USA. Hurricane Isabel, pictured on the 15th September as it passed east of the Bahamas, has flirted with category 5 status, the most powerful hurricane category. Hurricanes are huge swirling storms with cloud systems typically larger than a state. Tropical cyclones, called hurricanes in Earth's Western Hemisphere and typhoons in the Eastern Hemisphere, get their immense energy from warm evaporated ocean water. As this water vapor cools and condenses, it heats the air, lowers pressure and hence causes cooler air to come swooshing in. Winds can reach over 250 kilometers per hour and become very dangerous. Much remains unknown about cyclones, including how they are formed and the exact path they will take.

A larger version of this piccy can be found here, this is a 817K Jpeg image; imo well worth grabbing and adjusting to use as a desktop wallpaper.

Credit: Terra Satellite, EOS, NASA


Previous Pic Of The Day posts

30th Aug 03
29th Aug 03 Courtesy of Biffa:) (56K warning)
25th Aug 03
21st Aug 03
 
Man of Honour
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4 Nov 2002
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West Berkshire
At it's peak, Isabel hit sustained wind speeds of 160 mph, with "flight level" (a few hundred metres above ground) winds of 193 mph.

Fortunately, it's lost some of it's strength, down to 110 mph, but it has already dipped and strengthened again once, so it can do it again.

Expected to start impacting North/South Carolina later today.

spec_seasonal12_600_en.jpg

Image courtesty The Weather Channel
 
Last edited:
Wise Guy
Soldato
Joined
18 Jan 2003
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Hatton
Hmm, wonder if that thing is anything to do with my (and everyone elses) house/car's being covered in a film of fine sand/dust today then?
 
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