EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Shelf Mushroom on Cottonwood Tree

January 17, 2022

Image0

Photographer: Dale Hugo

Summary Author: Dale Hugo

On May 5th, 2004, this cottonwood tree (Populus deltoides) was
struck by lightning, damaging about one third of the tree. Sixteen
years later, part of it later fell on a neighbor’s house in June of
2020, which unfortunately caused extensive roof damage. Last September,
I noticed that about 8 feet off the ground a shelf fungus suddenly
appeared. The shelf fungus appears rubbery although it will likely
harden over time. My Australian friend called it a conk. Look
closely and you can also see a second spherical fungus underneath
it. Fungi thrive on decaying, wet wood, so interestingly the mushrooms
we see on the surface are actually the fruiting bodies of the
mycelia growing inside the tree. The mycelium can be 10 times the
volume of the mushroom itself. They aid in the breakdown of the dead
portion of the tree. I hope a mycologist can identify the species
these two fungi. One thing for sure, I’m not going to eat them!

Related EPODs

Shelf Mushroom on Cottonwood Tree Ribbon Lightning Over the
Czech Republic Desert Monsoon in Nevada Arcus Cloud over Villa
Gesell in Buenos Aires Province Strong Thunderstorm Over France
Mammatus Clouds over Colorado Springs, Colorado
More...

Severe Weather Links

* World Severe Weather Information Center
* Enhanced Fujita Scale
* A Lightning Primer
* More About Thunderstorms
* Staying Safe Outdoors in Severe Weather
* NOAA Storm Prediction Center
* Patterns of Lightning Activity
* US National Weather Service

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 6 weeks, 1 day, 20 hours, 43 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Inferior Mirage In Venetian Lagoon

February 17, 2022

MarioFreitas-July27-2017-P1150478

Photographer: Mario Freitas

Summary Author: Mario Freitas

The photo above was taken while on a boat cruise of the Venetian
Lagoon and shows an intriguing optical effects visible on the southern
horizon. Incoming sunlight caused the air close to water surface to
be warmer and less dense compared to cooler, denser air layers above.
This discontinuity in air refraction index forced low angle light
rays to bend upwards, giving origin to the illusion of floating masses
above the lagoon level. Such phenomenon characterizes an inferior
mirage. It’s important to mention the real horizon line is missing in
this field of view, thus making invisible the islands' basis, and
creating what is called a vanishing line. Photo taken on July 27,
2017.
* Venice, Italy Coordinates: 45.423, 12.355

Related EPODs

Inferior Mirage In Venetian Lagoon Anticrepuscular Rays Over
the Ionian Sea Belt of Venus and Cirrus Vertebratus Cloud Anvil
Clouds and Crepuscular Rays Twilight Colors over Biviere di Cesarò
Lake Double Rainbow Sunset Over Italy
More...

Atmospheric Effects Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* Optic Picture of Day: Gruppo Astrofili Galileo Galilei
* Color and Light in Nature
* The Colors of Twillight and Sunset
* Refraction Index
* Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
* What is a Rainbow?

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 10 weeks, 4 days, 20 hours, 45 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


iridescent Clouds Observed from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong

October 17, 2022

20210923_Iridescent_Cloud_DSCN1216

TerryL_20220601_Iridescent_Pileus_Cloud_DSCN3143

Photographer: Terry Lui
Summary Author: Terry Lui; Jim Foster

I observed these two iridescent clouds on the same day, June 1,
2022, from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. The cloud at top is likely an
altocumulus cloud in the incipient stage of formation, and the
cloud at bottom is a pileus cloud. Both clouds show iridescence or
irisation because their cloud droplets are small (perhaps 1/100 the
size of a raindrop) and all are about the same size. The pastel colors
result from the process of diffraction – light waves are interfered
with by the small droplets in such a way that orders of colors overlap
each other.

Tuen Mun, Hong Kong Coordinates: 22.3908, 113.9725


Related EPODs

iridescent Clouds Observed from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong Dew Drops
Golden Cumulus Clouds over Mt Makiling at Sunrise Thunderstorm
and Rainbow over Zagreb, Croatia Etna Volcano at Night
Crepuscular Rays Observed from Turin, Italy
More...

Atmospheric Effects Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* Optic Picture of Day: Gruppo Astrofili Galileo Galilei
* Color and Light in Nature
* The Colors of Twillight and Sunset
* Refraction Index
* Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
* What is a Rainbow?

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 33 weeks, 20 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Beautiful Alpine Lakes in the Sierra Nevada Range

November 17, 2022

2022 August 28 - a7 Eastern Sierra Nevada's Sabrina Trailhead to
Hungry Packer Lake Blue Lake 1

2022 August 29 - a12 Eastern Sierra Nevada's Sabrina Trailhead to
Hungry Packer Lake Scenery Drunken Sailor Lake Lupine 1

Photographer: Cindy Todd

Summary Author: Cindy Todd

Blue Lake, shown above at top, is about 3 miles (5 km) from the
Sabrina Lake Trailhead in the Eastern Sierra Nevada’s, part of
Inyo National Forest. But it's a steep uphill climb the entire way.
It’s worth it, thought! Blue Lake just appears out of nowhere and is a
simply gorgeous alpine lake, with nearby granite peaks jutting
up towards the sky.

After camping the night, I hiked to Hungry Packer Lake (bottom
photo). You can see Picture Peak in the background at right center.
The hike from Blue Lake is about 3.5 miles (6 km), however it’s a
relatively easy hike. Along the way, you’ll see several other alpine
lakes before viewing Picture Peak, standing at 13,140 feet (4005 m) in
elevation. Hiking in this area is stunning! Photos taken on August 28
and 29, 2022, respectively.


Inyo National Forest, California Coordinates: 37.3159, -118.4722


Related EPODs

Beautiful Alpine Lakes in the Sierra Nevada Range Quechee Gorge
in East Central Vermont Limestone Stratification near Modica,
Sicily Strawberry Moon and Etna Exhaust Kodachrome Basin State
Park, Utah Idaho’s Gravity-Defying Balanced Rock
More...

Geography Links

* Atlapedia Online
* CountryReports
* GPS Visualizer
* Holt Rinehart Winston World Atlas
* Mapping Our World
* Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
* Types of Land
* World Mapper

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 37 weeks, 3 days, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)