Happy Valentines!

Happy Valentines!



Heart shaped island in the Adriatic Sea.

The Danube

The Danube



Credit: ESA

The lovely Danube reaches the Black Sea. This magnificent delta lies in Romania.

GPS Makes Mountain Higher

GPS Makes Mountain Higher



That headline of mine is bullshit of course. :-) GPS measurements are more precise than photogrammetry though, and new measurement of this Welsh mountain manages to 'move' it over the 1000 meter threshold. I would not call it a super mountain though...:-)

Norway And Russia Is True

Norway+Russia=True



Finally after several decades of dispute over national borders (maritime borders), Norway and Russia have agreed how to divide their marine territories. All set for business now!

A lot of hard science went into that process, let me tell you...

Football Geography

South-Africa South



So I lied. Here is more 'irrelevant' geography for you. ;-) Nah, just teasing you football enthusiasts. ESA's Envisat knows where your eyes are fixed on this globe right now. On South-Africa!

This is still the only perspective I'll have on football....:-)

Dedicated to all my friends with a different perspective (the more normal one) on football. Those with eyes glued to the TV screens. And in particular to Ani!

Traveled World

The World


visited 48 states (21.3%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Inspired by Don. :-)

The Middle-East is not an easy place to go, so that explains that hole in my 'geographical education'. "My" Africa is just like for Earth observation systems in general, basically a 'black hole'. I hope to do something about that - I'd really love to learn more about that continent.

Plankton reaching Norway

Plankton 'attack' on Norway



Credit: ESA

It could also look like some accessory to Norway - like a necklace...:-)

Sweet.

Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico

Oil from Space



Credit: NASA

New Orleans is just not given much of a break is it. Well, right outside the coast from New Orleans tons of oil leaked out into the ocean. Spectacular view from space - not so much so in-situ, I'm sure.

The Netherlands - Sandbanks

Sandbanks from Space



Credits: CNES, Spot Image



Lovely sandbanks in Northern Netherlands - a UNESCO world heritage site since last year.
About Wadden Sea

Spanish Caves

Viva Espagna!



In particular these magnificent caves that MBMC sent me.

Afghanistan From Space

Afghanistan by Astronaut





This is a picture tweet from Soichi the astronaut on board International Space Station orbiting Earth. Not bad! :-)

Kamchatka: Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice



Yes, thank you! I'll have both! Go Kamchatka!

Haiti Post Quake

Haiti Post Quake



Credit: NASA/JPL

Here you see how Haiti looks from the air after the Haiti earthquake. The epicenter at the end of the fault (black arrow). And the capital Port-of-Prince (yellow arrow).





"This image will be combined with other images of the same area to be acquired later this month and in the future in order to measure the motion of Earth's surface during the time between images using a technique called interferometry. The interferometric measurements will allow scientists to study the pressures building up and being released on the fault at depth."

Haiti in Red

Haiti in Red



Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

With the help of satellite images before and after we can identify wound in the soil.

"Tiny dots of white against the plant-covered landscape (red in this image) are possible landslides, a common occurrence in mountainous terrain after large earthquakes. The possible landslides were identified by carefully comparing the new image with an image acquired one year ago.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, is silver in the false-color image. The rivers are pale blue, while the ocean is dark blue. Exposed soil is white."

Crater in Kazakhstan

Chiyli Crater in Kazakhstan



Credit: NASA

Space art. :-) And how appropriate. Astronauts returning from ISS often end up in Kazakhstan. Not in the Chiyli Crater though...

Volcano Heaven of The Ring of Fire

Volcano Heaven on The Ring of Fire



Credit: ESA

Kamchatka is where all the geophysical action is. Imagine hundreds of volcanoes, gigantic landslides and earthquakes. This is definitely a place to be - if you like earthly action! You might not survive, but that is another story...

Tibetan Glaciers

Tibetan Glaciers






This is a gorgeous presentation of Tibetan Glaciers - and the rest of the globe for that matter (do click on the image on the Earthobservatory site, it is worth it!).

According to the Chinese mapping authority, there are both shrinking and growing glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau. They use GPS to closely monitor the changes.

Antarctica

Antarctica



Without the ice, this is what Antarctica would look like. It's nice and blue this map, so I like it. I'm not too fond of the idea of actually being able to observe this in real life, though. That means that all the ice would have melted. We really don't want that! :-)

Geology of Antarctica

Himalaya

Himalayan Mountains



Credit: ESA

Antarctica

Dry Valleys, Antarctica




Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team