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Namibia
| Title |
Namibia |
| Description |
On the southwest coast of Africa, the soft orange sands of Namibia's coastal desert rise to a rugged interior plateau, with outcroppings of colorful rocks and pale green vegetation. The large coastal desert is one of the oldest in the world, and is caused by a cool ocean current, called the Benguela Current, snaking its way up from the south along southern Africa's Atlantic Coast. The cold current suppresses rainfall, but contributes to a morning fog that becomes trapped on the surface of some dunes and provides enough moisture for sparse vegetation to grow in some places. The dunes, pushed up by strong onshore winds, are the highest sand dunes in the world—as high as 300 to 350 meters (1000 to 1167 feet) in places. Rows of linear sand dunes can be seen as alternating ripples of darker and lighter orange in the center of the image. The dune shapes become more chaotic surrounding the mud plain where a river runs down out of the plateau (left of center), but doesn't make it to the ocean. This image combines observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on June 8 and August 9, 2002, with topographic information provided by the U.S. Geological Survey's GTOPO30 Digital Elevation Model. The vertical scale has been exaggerated to show more detail of the topography. For another look at the area, check out Astronaut Photo STS103-732-5. Image by Frank Eckardt, Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC |
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Oshigambo River and Etosha P
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| Title |
Oshigambo River and Etosha Pan, Namibia |
| Description |
Etosha Pan in northern Namibia is a large, dry lakebed in the Kalahari Desert. The 120-kilometer-long (75-mile-long) lake and its surroundings are protected as one of Namibia's largest wildlife parks. Herds of elephants occupy the dense mopane woodland on the south side of the lake. Mopane trees are common throughout south-central Africa, and host the mopane worm, [ http://www.mopane.org/biology.htm ] which is the larval form of the Mopane Emperor Moth and an important source of protein for rural communities. About 16,000 years ago, when ice sheets were melting across Northern Hemisphere land masses, a wet climate phase in southern Africa filled Etosha Lake. Today, Etosha Pan is seldom seen with even a thin sheet of water covering the salt pan. Two images taken about nine months apart document an unusually wet summer in southern Africa. The upper view (March 2006) shows the point where the Oshigambo River flows into the salt lake, the lower regional image (June 2005) shows the same inlet—but dry—on the north shore of Etosha Pan. The Oshigambo River is almost never seen with water, but in early 2006, rainfall twice the average amount in the river's catchment generated flow. Greens and browns show vegetation and algae growing in different depths of water where the river enters the dry lake (upper image, center). Typically, little river water or sediment reaches the dry lake because water seeps into the riverbed along its 250-kilometer (55-mile) course, reducing discharge along the way. In this image, there was enough surface flow to reach the Etosha Pan, but too little water reached the mouth of the river to flow beyond the inlet bay. The unusual levels of precipitation also filled several small, usually dry lakes to the north (upper image, right). Astronaut photograph ISS012-E-23057 [ http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/photo.pl?mission=ISS012&roll=E&frame=23057 ] was acquired March 2, 2006, with a Kodak 760C digital camera using a 180 mm lens. The regional oblique view, ISS011-E-9504, [ http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/photo.pl?mission=ISS011&roll=E&frame=9504 ] was taken June 24, 2005, also with the Kodak 760C and a 180 mm lens. Both images are provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. The images in this article have been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast. The International Space Station Program [ http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/home/index.html ] supports the laboratory to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. [ http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/ ] |
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Oshigambo River and Etosha P
…
| Title |
Oshigambo River and Etosha Pan, Namibia |
| Description |
Etosha Pan in northern Namibia is a large, dry lakebed in the Kalahari Desert. The 120-kilometer-long (75-mile-long) lake and its surroundings are protected as one of Namibia's largest wildlife parks. Herds of elephants occupy the dense mopane woodland on the south side of the lake. Mopane trees are common throughout south-central Africa, and host the mopane worm, [ http://www.mopane.org/biology.htm ] which is the larval form of the Mopane Emperor Moth and an important source of protein for rural communities. About 16,000 years ago, when ice sheets were melting across Northern Hemisphere land masses, a wet climate phase in southern Africa filled Etosha Lake. Today, Etosha Pan is seldom seen with even a thin sheet of water covering the salt pan. Two images taken about nine months apart document an unusually wet summer in southern Africa. The upper view (March 2006) shows the point where the Oshigambo River flows into the salt lake, the lower regional image (June 2005) shows the same inlet—but dry—on the north shore of Etosha Pan. The Oshigambo River is almost never seen with water, but in early 2006, rainfall twice the average amount in the river's catchment generated flow. Greens and browns show vegetation and algae growing in different depths of water where the river enters the dry lake (upper image, center). Typically, little river water or sediment reaches the dry lake because water seeps into the riverbed along its 250-kilometer (55-mile) course, reducing discharge along the way. In this image, there was enough surface flow to reach the Etosha Pan, but too little water reached the mouth of the river to flow beyond the inlet bay. The unusual levels of precipitation also filled several small, usually dry lakes to the north (upper image, right). Astronaut photograph ISS012-E-23057 [ http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/photo.pl?mission=ISS012&roll=E&frame=23057 ] was acquired March 2, 2006, with a Kodak 760C digital camera using a 180 mm lens. The regional oblique view, ISS011-E-9504, [ http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/photo.pl?mission=ISS011&roll=E&frame=9504 ] was taken June 24, 2005, also with the Kodak 760C and a 180 mm lens. Both images are provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. The images in this article have been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast. The International Space Station Program [ http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/home/index.html ] supports the laboratory to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. [ http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/ ] |
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Earth observations - STS-7
| Title |
Earth observations - STS-7 |
| Description |
Earth observations - STS-7. North part of Western Australia province, Dampier Land, Fitzroy and Lennard Rivers and the Buccaneer Archipelago (35792), Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border. The Bolivian capital city La Paz is also visible (35793), Denham Sound and Shark Bay in Western Australia are easily recognizable (35794), The Mona Loa Volcano, on the island of Hawaii can be seen in this view. A close look reveals lava flows from the active volcano (35795), Africa, Namibia, Grandberg and Cape Cross, Atlantic Ocean as photographed from the Challenger (35796), View of Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, and Peninsula de Paraguana (35797). |
| Date |
06.26.1983 |
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Namib Desert, Namibia, Afric
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| Title |
Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa |
| Description |
One of the driest regions on Earth, the Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa (23.0N, 15.0E) lies adjacent to the Atlantic coast but the upwelling oceanic water causes a very stable rainless atmosphere. The few local inland rivers do not reach the sea but instead, appear as long indentations where they penetrate the dune fields and end as small dry lakes. The vast dune fields are the result of sands deposited over millions of years by the stream flow. |
| Date Taken |
1990-04-29 |
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STS-32 Earth observation of
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| Title |
STS-32 Earth observation of the southern Sand Sea, Namibia, Atlantic Ocean |
| Description |
STS-32 Earth observation taken onboard Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, is of the southern Sand Sea. Low sun angles on this south-looking view of the sand dunes of the southern Sand Sea (foreground) shows the many subtle patterns produced by winds. Along the coast very strong southerly winds have generated a zone of ribbed, transverse dunes. Further inland, different patterns appear, which may relate to present winds, or perhaps to winds which blew in different directions at times in the geological past. Strong Santa Ana-type winds blow from inland (left) during the winter which may explain the small patterns (center left). The small fishing port of Luderitz occupies the main bay on the coastline. Otherwise the area is empty of inhabitants on the very dry and windy coast. Railways connect the post with inland centers. |
| Date Taken |
1990-01-20 |
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Namib Desert, Namibia, Afric
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| Title |
Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa |
| Description |
One of the driest regions on Earth, the Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa (23.0N, 15.0E) lies adjacent to the Atlantic coast but upwelling oceanic water causes a very stable rainless atmosphere. The few local inland rivers do not reach the sea but instead appear as long indentations where rivers penetrate the dune fields and end as small dry lakes. The vast dune fields are the result of sands deposited over millions of years by the stream flow. |
| Date Taken |
1990-01-20 |
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LDEF Retrieval over the Nami
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| Title |
LDEF Retrieval over the Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa |
| Description |
After five and a half years in orbit, the LDEF satellite was photographed, after capture by the RMS. Here, the satellite is seen over the coast of the Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa (23N, 15.0E) and held suspended above the payload bay for a thorough visual inspection prior to inserting into the payload bay. |
| Date Taken |
1990-01-20 |
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Open ocean Internal Waves, N
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| Title |
Open ocean Internal Waves, Namibia Coast, Africa. |
| Description |
These open ocean Internal Waves were seen off the Namibia Coast, Africa (23.0S, 14.0E). The periodic and regularly spaced sets of internal waves most likely coincide with tidal periods about 12 hours apart. The wave length (distance from crest to crest) varies between 1.5 and 5.0 miles and the crest lengths stretch across and beyond the distance of the photo. The waves are intersecting the Namibia coastline at about a 30 degree angle. |
| Date Taken |
1990-12-10 |
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Open ocean Internal Waves, N
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| Title |
Open ocean Internal Waves, Namibia Coast, Africa. |
| Description |
These open ocean Internal Waves were seen off the Namibia Coast, Africa (19.5S, 11.5E). The periodic and regularly spaced sets of incoming internal appear to be diffracting against the coastline and recombining to form a network of interference patterns. They seem to coincide with tidal periods about 12 hours apart and wave length (distance from crest to crest) varies between 1.5 and 5.0 miles and the crest lengths stretch beyond the image. |
| Date Taken |
1990-12-10 |
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Brandburg Prominance, Namibi
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| Title |
Brandburg Prominance, Namibia, Africa |
| Description |
The Brandburg Prominance, Namibia (21.5N, 15.0E) is a round basaltic plug and is the highest feature (over 8,000 ft) in the country. Wind streaks on the surface of the coastal desert, aligned northeast to southwest, are the result of frequent sand storms. Coastal stratus clouds provide most of the life supporting moisture as fog droplets in this arid land where annual rainfall may be less than a quarter of an inch for decades at a time. |
| Date Taken |
1991-08-11 |
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Fog Bank, Namib Desert, Nami
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| Title |
Fog Bank, Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa |
| Description |
Fog is the only source of moisture for desert dwelling animals and plants living in the Namib Desert sand dune field, Namibia (23.5N, 15.0E). Coastal stratus clouds provide most of the life supporting moisture as fog droplets in this arid land where the usual annual rainfall is less than a quarter of an inch for decades at a time. In this view, the stratus clouds over the coast conform to the dune pattern proving that the fog is in ground contact. |
| Date Taken |
1991-12-01 |
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Brandburg Prominance, Namibi
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| Title |
Brandburg Prominance, Namibia, Africa |
| Description |
The Brandburg Prominance, Namibia (21.0S, 14.5E) is a round basaltic plug and is the highest feature (over 8,000 ft) in the country. Wind streaks on the surface of the coastal desert, aligned northeast to southwest, are the result of frequent sand storms. Coastal stratus clouds provide most of the life supporting moisture as fog droplets in this arid land where annual rainfall may be less than a quarter of an inch for decades at a time. |
| Date Taken |
1993-01-19 |
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Earth observations - STS-7
| Title |
Earth observations - STS-7 |
| Description |
Earth observations - STS-7. North part of Western Australia province, Dampier Land, Fitzroy and Lennard Rivers and the Buccaneer Archipelago (35792), Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border. The Bolivian capital city La Paz is also visible (35793), Denham Sound and Shark Bay in Western Australia are easily recognizable (35794), The Mona Loa Volcano, on the island of Hawaii can be seen in this view. A close look reveals lava flows from the active volcano (35795), Africa, Namibia, Grandberg and Cape Cross, Atlantic Ocean as photographed from the Challenger (35796), View of Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, and Peninsula de Paraguana (35797). |
| Date Taken |
1983-06-26 |
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Earth observations - STS-7
| Title |
Earth observations - STS-7 |
| Description |
Earth observations - STS-7. North part of Western Australia province, Dampier Land, Fitzroy and Lennard Rivers and the Buccaneer Archipelago (35792), Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border. The Bolivian capital city La Paz is also visible (35793), Denham Sound and Shark Bay in Western Australia are easily recognizable (35794), The Mona Loa Volcano, on the island of Hawaii can be seen in this view. A close look reveals lava flows from the active volcano (35795), Africa, Namibia, Grandberg and Cape Cross, Atlantic Ocean as photographed from the Challenger (35796), View of Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, and Peninsula de Paraguana (35797). |
| Date Taken |
1983-06-26 |
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Earth observations - STS-7
| Title |
Earth observations - STS-7 |
| Description |
Earth observations - STS-7. North part of Western Australia province, Dampier Land, Fitzroy and Lennard Rivers and the Buccaneer Archipelago (35792), Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border. The Bolivian capital city La Paz is also visible (35793), Denham Sound and Shark Bay in Western Australia are easily recognizable (35794), The Mona Loa Volcano, on the island of Hawaii can be seen in this view. A close look reveals lava flows from the active volcano (35795), Africa, Namibia, Grandberg and Cape Cross, Atlantic Ocean as photographed from the Challenger (35796), View of Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, and Peninsula de Paraguana (35797). |
| Date Taken |
1983-06-26 |
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Earth observations - STS-7
| Title |
Earth observations - STS-7 |
| Description |
Earth observations - STS-7. North part of Western Australia province, Dampier Land, Fitzroy and Lennard Rivers and the Buccaneer Archipelago (35792), Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border. The Bolivian capital city La Paz is also visible (35793), Denham Sound and Shark Bay in Western Australia are easily recognizable (35794), The Mona Loa Volcano, on the island of Hawaii can be seen in this view. A close look reveals lava flows from the active volcano (35795), Africa, Namibia, Grandberg and Cape Cross, Atlantic Ocean as photographed from the Challenger (35796), View of Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, and Peninsula de Paraguana (35797). |
| Date Taken |
1983-06-26 |
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Earth observations - STS-7
| Title |
Earth observations - STS-7 |
| Description |
Earth observations - STS-7. North part of Western Australia province, Dampier Land, Fitzroy and Lennard Rivers and the Buccaneer Archipelago (35792), Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border. The Bolivian capital city La Paz is also visible (35793), Denham Sound and Shark Bay in Western Australia are easily recognizable (35794), The Mona Loa Volcano, on the island of Hawaii can be seen in this view. A close look reveals lava flows from the active volcano (35795), Africa, Namibia, Grandberg and Cape Cross, Atlantic Ocean as photographed from the Challenger (35796), View of Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, and Peninsula de Paraguana (35797). |
| Date Taken |
1983-06-26 |
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Earth observations - STS-7
| Title |
Earth observations - STS-7 |
| Description |
Earth observations - STS-7. North part of Western Australia province, Dampier Land, Fitzroy and Lennard Rivers and the Buccaneer Archipelago (35792), Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border. The Bolivian capital city La Paz is also visible (35793), Denham Sound and Shark Bay in Western Australia are easily recognizable (35794), The Mona Loa Volcano, on the island of Hawaii can be seen in this view. A close look reveals lava flows from the active volcano (35795), Africa, Namibia, Grandberg and Cape Cross, Atlantic Ocean as photographed from the Challenger (35796), View of Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, and Peninsula de Paraguana (35797). |
| Date Taken |
1983-06-26 |
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STS-57 OV-105's payload bay
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| Title |
STS-57 OV-105's payload bay (PLB) with Earth observation of Namib Desert |
| Description |
STS-57 Earth observation taken aboard Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, is of the coast of the Namib Desert. This northeast-looking view shows the distinctive yellow, parallel dunes of the Namib Sand Sea in the foreground under OV-105's tail. The largest harbor on the Atlantic coast is Walvis Bay. A small piece of south African territory surrounded by the newly independent country, Walvis Bay is Namibia's major port. On the dune-free flats directly inland from Walvis Bay, large reserves of near-surface uranium have been discovered. The world's largest open-pit uranium mine, the Rossing Mine, has attracted workers from all parts of Namibia. Of special interest for this mission is the unusual occurrence of blowing dust offshore (orange patch over the sea). In what was a mission dominated by episodes of blowing dust, this is another example showing how windy the Earth is at present. This large view from a higher-than-usual altitude includes the large oval patch of the Etosha dry lake n |
| Date Taken |
1993-07-01 |
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View of ASTRO-2 payload in c
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| Title |
View of ASTRO-2 payload in cargo bay of STS-67 Endeavour |
| Description |
This 70mm cargo bay scene, backdropped against a desert area of Namibia, typifies the view seen by the ASTRO-2 crew members during their almost 17 days aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Positioned on the Spacelab pallet amidst other hardware, the ASTRO-2 payload is in its operational mode. Visible here are the Instrument Pointing System (IPS), Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT), Star Tracker (ST), Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT), Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment (WUPPE), and Integrated Radiator System (IRS). At this angle, the Optical Sensor Package (OSP) is not seen. The Igloo, which supports the package of experiments, is in center foreground. Two Get-Away Specials (GAS) canisters are in lower left foreground. The Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO) pallet, located aft of the cargo bay, is obscured by the ASTRO-2 payload. The Endeavour is 190 nautical miles above the Earth. |
| Date Taken |
1995-03-04 |
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