Karman Vortices

Landsat 7

Acquired 1999-09-01

U.S. Geological Survey — Earth as Art 1

Each of these swirling clouds is a result of a meteorological phenomenon known as a Karman vortex. These vortices appeared over Alexander Selkirk Island in the southern Pacific Ocean. Rising precipitously from the surrounding waters, the island's highest point is nearly a mile (1.6 km) above sea level. As wind-driven clouds encounter this obstacle, they flow around it to form these large, spinning eddies.

Curated from

U.S. Geological Survey — Earth as Art 1. Imagery in the public domain; the edit and sequencing are Orbital Artifacts’.

Limited edition

30 of 30 remaining

Available as

Not yet in the shop. Get in touch → for commissions or an early print of this scene.

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OA-007

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Earth data, reimagined as art.

By Anupa Kulathunga · Sri Lanka

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Imagery curated from Earth as Art, courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data.

Acquired 1999-09-01Landsat 7

OA-008

Karman Vortices

Landsat 7

Acquired 1999-09-01

U.S. Geological Survey — Earth as Art 1

Each of these swirling clouds is a result of a meteorological phenomenon known as a Karman vortex. These vortices appeared over Alexander Selkirk Island in the southern Pacific Ocean. Rising precipitously from the surrounding waters, the island's highest point is nearly a mile (1.6 km) above sea level. As wind-driven clouds encounter this obstacle, they flow around it to form these large, spinning eddies.

Curated from

U.S. Geological Survey — Earth as Art 1. Imagery in the public domain; the edit and sequencing are Orbital Artifacts’.

Limited edition

30 of 30 remaining

Available as

Not yet in the shop. Get in touch → for commissions or an early print of this scene.

← Back to archive

← Previous

Yukon Delta

OA-007

Next →

Caribbean Luxury

OA-009