#quikscat

[mostly-history]

Mount Vesuvius (Naples, March 2002), from the QuikSCAT satellite.

Around Vesuvius are densely-populated communities, especially on the western side. Naples is to the north-west (outside the photo), and the remains of Pompeii are to the south-east, near the lower right corner of the photo.  On the volcano's northern face is a grey river of lava from an eruption in 1944.

[earthspaceoceanenvironment]

Was just looking through the image archive for QuikScat, a NASA/JPL satellite-based observing platform that assesses wind speeds through observations of ocean surface roughness using microwaves.  Microwaves reflect more brightly off of ocean surfaces that are agitated by wind-driven waves, while smooth surfaces are not as reflective.  The above images from QuikScat translate sustained wind patterns into a power/area factor for offshore wind.  The top panel is Northern Hemisphere winter and the bottom is Southern Hemisphere winter.  Note the fairly dramatic seasonal variations for the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts, where wind development is planned. 

- Karl Kehm

[avtavr]

Nate and Maria (pictured top to bottom), September 7-8, 2005.