Nature’s Dramatic Patterns: Remarkable Spirals in the Skies and Oceans near Bear Island, Norway

by Manuel Costa
5 comments
Von Kármán vortices

On July 13, 2023, NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard the Aqua satellite captured an image of Bear Island, Norway, revealing Von Kármán vortices in cloud formations and patterns of phytoplankton blooms in the waters of the Norwegian and Barents Sea.

This remote island, part of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, showcased an extraordinary example of fluid dynamics.

Theodore von Kármán, a notable Hungarian-American physicist and co-founder of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is highly regarded for his contributions to the study of fluid turbulence. His name is especially associated with the von Kármán vortices in atmospheric science.

Understanding von Kármán Vortices

These vortices, characterized by elongated spirals of eddies, can form in any fluid medium disrupted by an object. Given that the atmosphere acts as a fluid, various structures like airplane wings, bridges, or islands can induce these vortex formations.

Bear Island’s Unique Phenomenon

In the captured satellite image, Bear Island (also known as Bjórnóya) instigated a unique spiral cloud formation. Simultaneously, a visually arresting event was observed through a break in the clouds: phytoplankton bloom tendrils, influenced by the surface currents of the surrounding seas. The image was acquired by the MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite on July 13, 2023.

Bear Island’s Ecosystem

Polar bears are infrequent visitors to Bear Island, contrary to its name. The island is mainly inhabited by a few meteorological station staff members.

The island’s wildlife predominantly consists of foxes, seals, and a variety of sea birds, outnumbering humans and polar bears. According to the Ramsar Sites Information Service, the island is a significant breeding ground for over a million seabirds, including species like the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), pink-footed geese (Anser branchyrhynchus), and barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis).

The image was provided by NASA Earth Observatory, captured by Wanmei Liang, utilizing MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Von Kármán vortices

What are Von Kármán vortices and where were they observed?

Von Kármán vortices are spiral eddies that form in fluid mediums when disrupted by an object. They were observed in cloud formations around Norway’s Bear Island in a satellite image captured on July 13, 2023.

Where is Bear Island located and what is its significance?

Bear Island, also known as Bjórnóya, is the southernmost island of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. It is significant for its unique fluid dynamic phenomena, such as the Von Kármán vortices and phytoplankton blooms, visible in satellite imagery.

What wildlife is found on Bear Island?

While polar bears are rare visitors, Bear Island is home to foxes, seals, and over a million seabirds like the black-legged kittiwake and pink-footed geese. The island is a notable breeding ground for these species.

Who was Theodore von Kármán and what was his contribution to atmospheric science?

Theodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American physicist who co-founded NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is renowned in atmospheric science for his research on fluid turbulence and the discovery of the von Kármán vortices.

How was the image of Bear Island captured and by whom?

The image of Bear Island was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on July 13, 2023. It was provided by NASA Earth Observatory and captured by Wanmei Liang.

More about Von Kármán vortices

  • NASA Earth Observatory
  • Fluid Dynamics and von Kármán Vortices
  • Wildlife of Bear Island
  • Theodore von Kármán and His Contributions
  • MODIS Instrument on Aqua Satellite
  • Bear Island’s Location and Geography
  • Phytoplankton Blooms in Norwegian and Barents Sea
  • Ramsar Sites Information Service: Bear Island

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5 comments

Linda_Q December 3, 2023 - 11:47 am

just shows how diverse wildlife is, even in remote places like Bear Island, those seabirds must be a sight to see!

Reply
KevinT December 4, 2023 - 1:21 am

I’ve always been fascinated by satellite imagery, the detail and clarity in this image is just mind-blowing, thanks NASA!

Reply
Jenny M. December 4, 2023 - 1:25 am

wow the nature’s so amazing, Von Kármán vortices look like natures own art! really cool to see this stuff from satellites.

Reply
MarkusB December 4, 2023 - 3:37 am

Its interesting how even a small island like Bear Island can have such a big impact on the environment. and those phytoplankton blooms, they’re just beautiful.

Reply
Samuel K. December 4, 2023 - 8:44 am

I didn’t know much about Theodore von Kármán before, but this guy was a genius in fluid dynamics, really impressive.

Reply

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