Earth from Space - Image Description

STS-069-711-0AG Hafun Peninsula, Northeast Somalia August 1995
The Hafun Peninsula along the northeast coast of Somalia is a tombolo -- a long, narrow accumulation of sand with one end attached to the mainland and the other end projecting to an offshore island or pillar of rocks. This part of Somalia is a hot desert with very little vegetation. Vivid drainage patterns are visible adjacent to the coastal sands. This natural color photograph and color infrared STS-049-087-035 may be compared--the color infrared photograph uses sunglint to show dynamic ocean patterns; however, this natural color picture also shows ocean dynamics as the warm, north-flowing current has produced an "island" wake effect on the north side of the peninsula. It is also interesting to compare the north-south-oriented lines of color change in the area immediately west of the tombolo, a change possibly resulting from the beach sands meeting a more resistant low escarpment that has different reflective properties.

This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Earth Science & Remote Sensing Unit, ARES Division, Exploration Integration Science Directorate.