Earthgazing

"Glint" refers to the light patch north east of Madagascar

Sunrise and sunset enhance the perspective by casting long shadows. Irma eventually produced widespread damage throughout the Caribbean

Vortex streets are the manifestation of vortex shedding behind an obstacle, here Guadalupe Island

Vortex streets are the manifestation of vortex shedding behind an obstacle, here Guadalupe Island

Multiple convective systems display atmospheric gravity waves (ripples) in their anvils

These geometrically pleasing clouds appear very frequently in this region

As thunderstorms develop, they produce cold air that sinks and spreads out, forming a ring of clear air (outlined in blue)

The atmospheric flow is perturbed by the Appalachian moutains, creating a pattern of standing waves, here visible in the cloud field

Intense wildfires can create convective clouds, sometimes penetrating the stratosphere

There may be no physical link between these clouds and the landscape--it is simply pretty

An atmospheric wave, made visible to the naked eye thanks to the presence of water in the atmosphere

On a clear night, the Moon shines light onto currents and boat wakes on the sea surface

Astonishing side view of the atmosphere, revealing thunderstorms and their anvils (black), ash layers (dark red), and the stratosphere (blue)

Convective instability leads to the development of convective clouds, some of which develop anvils where they reach a level of neutral buoyancy

Polar mesospheric clouds form near 80 km altitude when the temperature is low enough that the small amounts of water vapor available turn into ice crystals

Sprites are electrical discharges that occur in the mesosphere (50-80 km) above intense thunderstorms

A pileus cloud photographed above cumulonimbi in southern China