Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
written by a professional astronomer.
2020 May 17
A Waterspout in Florida
Image Credit & Copyright: Joey Mole
Explanation: What's happening over the water? Pictured here is one of
the better images yet recorded of a waterspout, a type of tornado that
occurs over water. Waterspouts are spinning columns of rising moist air
that typically form over warm water. Waterspouts can be as dangerous as
tornadoes and can feature wind speeds over 200 kilometers per hour.
Some waterspouts form away from thunderstorms and even during
relatively fair weather. Waterspouts may be relatively transparent and
initially visible only by an unusual pattern they create on the water.
The featured image was taken in 2013 July near Tampa Bay, Florida. The
Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida is arguably the most active
area in the world for waterspouts, with hundreds forming each year.
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Tomorrow's picture: space reef flyby
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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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& Michigan Tech. U.
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