Exploring Earth From Space: Majestic View of Lofoten, Norway [Video]

Lofoten Norway Crop

The archipelago of Lofoten in northern Norway captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission on November 24, 2020. (Picture is cropped. Click on for the complete view.) Credit score: Comprises modified Copernicus Sentinel knowledge (2020), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission takes us over the archipelago of Lofoten in northern Norway.

Extending round 175 km from north to south, the archipelago includes 5 principal islands (Austvågøya, Gimsøya, Vestvågøya, Flakstadøya, and Moskenesøya), in addition to many small islands and skerries (rocky islets and reefs). Lofoten is understood for its distinctive surroundings, with dramatic mountains and peaks, sweeping seashores, deep blue fjords and sheltered bays.

Svolvær, the chief city and port of the Lofoten island group, is positioned on the southern coast of Austvågøya, the easternmost island of the archipelago. The financial system largely is dependent upon cod fisheries, with the city’s inhabitants swelling in the course of the spawning season as fishermen flock in. The fjord of Vestfjorden lies between the archipelago and the mainland.

Though mendacity fully throughout the Arctic Circle, Lofoten experiences one of many world’s largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its excessive latitude. Because of a convergence of the Gulf Stream with two underwater currents, the North Atlantic Present and the Norwegian Present, the climate in Lofoten stays anomalously heat.

The colours of this week’s picture come from the mix of two ‘polarisations’ from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission which have been transformed right into a single picture. This distant sensing approach permits us to detect the place variations between the polarisations are larger. These variations are seen in shades of blue within the picture, such because the uneven Norwegian Sea, wetlands and mires similar to these on the northern tip of Andøya and moist snow on hilltops and in mountains (bottom-right nook of the picture).

What seems in yellow signifies what has fewer variations between polarisations, similar to forests and different vegetated land, in addition to built-up areas.

Sentinel-1 is a radar mission and in contrast to optical cameras, the pictures are often black and white when they're obtained. Through the use of a know-how that aligns the radar beams despatched and obtained by the instrument in a single orientation – both vertically or horizontally – the ensuing knowledge might be processed in a means that produces colored photos such because the one featured right here. This method permits scientists to raised analyze Earth’s floor. For extra info on polarimetry, click on right here.

This picture, acquired on November 24, 2020, can also be featured on the Earth from House video program embedded above.

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