NASA Image Depicts Gravity Waves Over Lake Superior

A new NASA picture is stunning to say the least - what the image is actually depicting is something that can never be seen from ground level, the phenomenon of gravity waves and sunglint over northeastern Lake Superior.

The International Space Station has brought us some of the world’s most gorgeous views. Not only does it provide us a window into the vastness of space but it also shows us various parts of Earth from a unique perspective.

Case in point – one of its recent photos featured by NASA. The picture of northeastern Lake Superior is stunning to say the least with green lush land and thick swirling white clouds.

What the image is actually depicting is something that can never be seen from ground level.

Gravity waves are produced when humid air meets with different air densities. This causes the air to swirl upwards and downwards as it moves, in the process condensing and evaporating. That act forms the distinctive parallel clouds visible in the image.

The green mass seen at the top of the photograph is the Canadian Shield of southern Ontario with its forest canopy indicative of the summer months.

Another gorgeous aspect is the sunglint – a phenomenon caused by sunlight reflecting off water, and in this view allowing us to see the water currents below.