APOD
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.
A Waterspout in Florida
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 waterspout s 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.
Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995)
| Date | April 23, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Credit | Image Credit & Copyright: Joey Mole |
| Authors & editors: | Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |