NASA Satellite Captures Von Kármán Vortices Behind Jeju Island Clouds

At a glance

A NASA satellite captured a spiral of swirling clouds behind Mount Hallla on Jeju Island. The image was taken on February 19 and released on February 24.

Key points

1. 1

   The MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite photographed the area around Jeju on February 19.

2. 2

   NASA calls the pattern a von Kármán vortex street, a row of alternating swirls that form when wind flows past an island-like landform.

3. 3

   The clouds make invisible wind flows visible.

4. 4

   Such vortices form at wind speeds of about 18 to 54 km per hour.

Why it matters

Clouds can reveal wind patterns we cannot see, helping people understand how landforms and weather interact..