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👀 Ever seen the atmospheric phenomenon called von Kármán vortices? A NOAA satellite captured these clouds swirling over the Pacific Ocean on April 30, 2024. Von Kármán vortices arise when winds are diverted around a blunt, high-profile area, often an island rising from the ocean, NASA says. The alternating direction of rotation in the air forms swirls in the clouds. Physicist Theodore von Kármán first described the process, hence the name. #SatelliteImagery #VonKarman #Vortices #VonKarmanVortic

This week, #EarthFromOrbit highlights von Kármán vortices. These cloud formations typically occur when the prevailing wind is diverted by elevated land features such as islands, mountaintops, or volcanoes. This disruption creates spiral patterns in the clouds. NOAA satellites and those from NASA and our international partners observe this phenomenon all over the world. When von Kármán vortices form, satellites capture them in stunning detail. Learn more: go.usa.gov/xH64k | GOES-R (Geostationary