MSGID: 1:317/3 638b8ecf   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   December 3, 2022 - Sea Ice and Clouds over the Sea of Okhotsk   
      
      Sea Ice and Clouds over the Sea of Okhotsk   
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      The Sea of Okhotsk has been called a “cloud and ice factory”, thanks to   
      the prevailing frigid and dry northwesterly winds blowing out from   
      Siberia over the relatively warm and moist waters. On December 2, 2022,   
      the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board   
      NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a stunning false-color image   
      illustrating the dramatic results of that factory—filigrees of forming   
      sea ice and dramatic cloud streets over the Sea of Okhotsk.   
      
      In this type of false-color image, snow appears bright electric blue   
      and high, cold cloud filled with ice crystals sports a similar color.   
      Floating sea ice looks darker blue and deep waters look inky-black. It   
      is easy to see that Siberia is covered with snow and patches of cloud   
      and that sea ice has begun to form along the coast, where steady winds   
      have begun to freeze the shallowest surface waters. Later in the season   
      the entire surface of the Sea of Okhotsk will become laden with a layer   
      of ice. The most striking feature of this image is the pattern of   
      parallel rows of clouds (cloud streets) that cover the dark waters.   
      
      Cloud streets typically form when cold air blows over warmer waters,   
      picking up heat and moisture. As this air becomes warmer and wetter, it   
      starts to rise in columns until its hit a warmer air layer, which makes   
      the rising thermals roll over and loop back on themselves, creating   
      parallel cylinders of rotating air. On the upper edge of these   
      cylinders, clouds form. On the falling side (descending air), cloud   
      formation is difficult, and the skies will appear clear or—as in this   
      image—thin. Thanks to strong, cool land breezes and warmer Pacific   
      waters to the east, the Sea of Okhotsk is covered by clouds (with or   
      without streets) for much of the year.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Aqua   
      Date Acquired: 12/2/2022   
      Resolutions:  1km (2.6 MB),  500m (7.8 MB),  250m (22.5 MB)   
      Bands Used: 1,4,3   
      Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC   
      
      
      
   https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2022-12-03   
       
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