STS109 Earth Sciences Debriefing

9 April 2002

# Geology & Geomorphology of North America

STS109-724-018 **Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii**. The volcanoes Kilauea and
Mauna Loa on Hawaii reflect the activity at depth of a mantle hotspot, a
topographically high region of extreme heat on the surface of the
Earth\'s mantle. Loihi, southeast of the Big Island, is growing and
evidence of subsea eruptions can sometimes be seen in the surrounding
waters.

STS109-724-021 **Hawaiian Islands, Maui** with dormant volcano
Haleakala, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe. These islands formed earlier over
the Hawaiian hotspot and have subsided somewhat; the Pacific plate has
since moved northwestward, and the hotspot is now feeding magma to the
islands of Hawaii.

STS109-718-102 **Galapagos Islands** in sunglint. Deflection of currents
around the islands and trains of internal waves are beautifully revealed
in the sunglint.

STS109-716-181 **Galapagos Islands**, equatorial E. Pacific.
Seahorse-shaped Isabella and more rounded Fernandina are volcanic
islands generated by a mantle hotspot offshore from Ecuador. The hotspot
rises at the junction of the Cocos oceanic plate on the north and the
Nazca plate on the south and east. Volcanic craters on Fernandina are
aligned along a north-trending fault of the plate boundary system.

STS109-718-099 **Galapagos Islands**, southern Fernandina

STS109-323-018 **Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl** volcanoes, central
Mexican Volcanic Belt, in dawn light. Popocatepetl continues to spout
ash and gas, although it was quiet when this detailed photo was taken.
This photo and STS 109-323-20 are an excellent stereopair.

STS109-323-027 **Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl** volcanoes, central
Mexican Volcanic Belt, regional view to west.

STS109-708-079 **NW Colombia, Venezuela**. Rare view of the Sierra
Nevada de Santa Marta (dark, shield-shaped mountains) west of the Gulf
of Venezuela, the Guajira and the Paraguaná peninsulas. Panoramic view
of the Cordillera Oriental, Colombian Andes (foreground) an area that is
almost always obscured by clouds. Cordillera de Mérida is the distant
ENE-trending range that lies south of Lake Maracaibo. Santa Marta massif
and the Cordillera Oriental are blocks of billion-year-old crust that
have been forced up as the Nazca tectonic plate (part of the Pacific)
collides with South America.

STS109-712-066 **Maracaibo, Venezuela**. The city of Maracaibo occupies
the west bank of the strait connecting Lake Maracaibo with the Gulf of
Venezuela.

STS109-712-073 **Venezuela, Paraguaná Peninsula**, Golfete de Coro
(angular patch of muddy water). The Golfete de Coro is cross-cut by
faults of the Caribbean plate boundary system, hence the sharp, straight
shorelines. South of the gulf, details of other faults and structures
are clearly seen.

STS109-720-075 **Colombia, Cordillera Oriental detail**. Possibly the
only photo of this span of the Andes \-- always cloud-covered. The
Cordillera is another block of ancient continental crust that has been
forced up during the Nazca-S. American plate collision. Lago Tota is
near center.

STS109-724-010 **Venezuela -** Llanos plains fans (compare
STS109-729-89); Lake Maracaibo in background

STS109-711-056 **Pan \-- full width of Argentina**, so. Chile; Andes to
Rio de la Plata estuary with sediment, BsAs; Contrast between the rusty
volcanic Andes and Altiplano and the narrow, dark foreland ranges of the
Precordillera.

STS109-729-089 **Argentina -** High desert plains (\"altiplano\") of the
Andes Mts, and Chaco plains---panorama looking south

STS109-711-056 Panoramic view south from central **Argentina towards
Patagonia**, (where a distant dust plume off Bahia Blanca can be seen),
with the Andes Mts and the Pacific Ocean on the right, and the Río de
Plata on the Atlantic coast on the lower left. The large inland lake,
known as Mar Chiquita, and the Paraná River floodplain, both supress
cloud formation

# Geology & Geomorphology of South America

STS109-728-031 **N. Argentina, Andes**. Exceptional view of the
rusty-looking volcanic High Andes and Altiplano; the long volcanic belt
results from subduction of the Pacific oceanic plate beneath S. America.
Toward the continent from the volcanic ranges are the narrow,
thrust-faulted and folded ranges of the Precordillera, made up of
ancient basement rocks and sedimentary strata almost identical to those
of west-central Texas. This block of N. America became attached to S.
America during a plate collision some 375 million years ago. The
tremendous uplift of the Andes has brought these old rocks to the
surface.

STS109-405-015 **West-central Argentina**. Aconcagua, highest point in
South America at 6,960 m, is the snowy peak at left of this view. Once
believed to be a volcano \-- it is capped with a lava flow \-- Aconcagua
is now known to be a great basement-cored block that has been thrusted
up to its present elevation. Mts. Amarillo, Mercedario and Ansilta are
volcanic peaks lying to the north. A few of the narrow Precordillera
ranges can be seen in the foreground

STS109-725-073 **Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina**, highest point (6,960 m) in
S. America. Layers of rock on the flanks of this uplifted block can be
discerned in this detailed view. The deep, sharp valley heading toward
the viewer is the principal pass over the Andes at this latitude. The
mountain resort of Uspallata is just NE of the fork in the valley at
right center. Ice-capped volcanic peaks Amarillo, Mercedario and Ansilta
are in the foreground.

STS109-405-028 **Central Andes Panorama** - This grand view from over
the Chaco Plain of Argentina, looks southwestward to Valparaiso, Chile
on the Pacific coast. This segment of the Andes has few volcanoes and
numerous peaks with elevations in excess of 20,000 feet, including Mount
Aconcagua.

STS109-404-010 **Mount Aconcagua, Argentina** - This view of South
America\'s highest mountain includes to small ice fields with glaciers
on the north and eastern flanks of Mount Mercedario and Amarillo, both
over 20,000 feet in elevation

STS109-404-021 Around **Cerro Ojos del Salado** (Argentina-Chile
border), peaks reach 21-23,000-ft; mountain climbers\' mountains, acc.
Grunsfeld; subduction-related volcanoes and folded/faulted strata; one
of a fine stereopair with STS109-404-019

STS109-407-025 **High Andean Glacier, Argentina** - These small ice
fields with glaciers are located on the eastern and northern flanks of
the Andes north of Mount Aconcagua and west of the Rio De los Patos in
west central Argentina.

STS109-404-006 **Coquimbo, Chile** - The smaller city of La Serena is
situated on the river that enters Coquimbo Bay from the east. The Cero
ToloIo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) is roughly located in the lower
left portion of this photo, below and to the right of the bright patch
of mines and to the left (south) of the larger, green river valley.

# Meteorology

STS109-339-012 **Punta Las Zorras, Peru** - The usual bank of coastal
fog and stratus found in this remote coastal area north of Lima, Peru,
are progressively being eroded or evacuated by brisk south to southeast
winds. Either the small headlands here are channeling the clouds into
streaks or the clouds are banked against the larger, obstructing
headlands. Note the dry land argriculture near the small rivers.

STS109-336-037 **Coastal Stratus Evacuation** - The usual bank of
coastal fog and stratus found in this region of Peru are progressively
being eroded or evacuated by brisk south to southeast winds. The clouds
are banked against the larger, obstructing headlands of Punta Carreta,
Peninsula Paracas, and Isla Sangayan. Besides the shelter of the
peninsula, the Bahia de Pisco appears to be cloud-free due to a dry,
offshore flow down the valley the Rio Ica. There are also ripples of
internal waves in the clouds offshore where warm, dry air aloft is
interacting with the thinning layer of cool, moist air near the sea
surface.

STS109-730-080 **Coastal Stratus Evacuation** - The usual bank of
coastal fog and stratus found in this region of Peru are progressively
being eroded or evacuated by brisk south to southeast winds. To the
south, the small headlands there are channeling the clouds into streaks,
while further north, the clouds are banked against the larger,
obstructing headlands of Punta Carreta, Peninsula Paracas, and Isla
Sangayan. Besides the shelter of the peninsula, the Bahia de Pisco
appears to be cloud-free due to a dry, offshore flow down the valley the
Rio Ica. There are also ripples of internal waves in the clouds offshore
where warm, dry air aloft is interacting with the thinning layer of
cool, moist air near the sea surface.

STS109-719-072 **Cold Air Advection and Air Mass Modification** - This
oblique view looks northward from South Florida to the southern
Appalachians. Most of the southeastern US is in a crisp, clear air mass
in the wake of a cold front that has pushed well off the mainland. Note
the streets of low clouds forming as the cold air moves over the Gulf
Stream and begins to acquire moisture and heat from the sea surface.
Only a few jet stream and low-level clouds remain over South Florida and
the Gulf Stream.

STS109-E-6003 **Subtropical Cyclone, Tasman Sea** - This view looks
southwestward over the Tasman Sea (between Australia and New Zealand) at
a well-defined subtropical cyclone there. Such circulations are
recognized as hybrids, lacking the tight banding and convection of
tropical cyclones, and, the strong temperature contrast and frontal
boundaries of polar storms.

STS109-720-044 **East coast of Yucatán** (opposite island of Cozumel)
revegetated after damage from Hurricane Gilbert (Force 5) in 1988

STS041-152-278 **Yucatan --** Vegetation damage along the Yucatan coast
after the passage of Hurricane Gilbert.

# Australia

STS109-724-040 Exmouth Gulf with white sand flats behind mangrove-capped
tidal bars.

STS067-709-084 Red floodwater from Hurricane Bobby (300 mm \[12 inches\]
of rain) illustrated the fact that the whole region along the east side
of the Exmouth Gulf is one big delta. The floodwater fingers out into
the blue waters of the Gulf through dark mangrove islands. This image
was taken March 3, 1995.

STS109-722-035 Lake Seabrook wirth water; fire scars

STS109-724-048 Vari-colored flood waters in Lake Carnegie with water,
central Western Australia

STS109-711-019 Panoramic view south across the Channel Country of
Queensland to Lake Eyre (South Australia)

STS109-716-076 Goyder Lagoon, Warburton River (South Australia), with
extensive water in dunes of the Eyre Creek drainage

STS109-710-090 CIR-Wide reach of Cooper Creek (sector between Durham
Downs and Innamincka, South Australia), with water

STS109-730-004 CVIS - Wide reach of Cooper Creek (sector between Durham
Downs and Innamincka, South Australia), with water

STS109-730-005 Lake Eyre

STS109-724-091 Lake Eyre, Madigan groove

STS109-725-085 Firescars and coastal fire

# Deltas and Coasts

STS109-712-084 **Surinam, northern S. America**. Beaches at the mouth of
Suriname River are nesting ground for leatherback turtles. This is one
of several South American coastal areas being monitored as part of the
CSA Space for Species project. The city of Paramaribo is near the
eastward-projecting point on the western riverbank

STS109-711-003 **Irrawaddy River** delta, with smoke in the Irrawaddy
valley and fires on the mountain sides to the east

STS109-348-027 **SW Cape Province**, with very large sunglint point over
the Atlantic Ocean, related to HST altitude

STS109-712-038 Freshwater lenses off a tropical river mouth (no DRM)

STS109-406-001 **Australia -** Submarine sand banks, Moreton I.,
Queensland

STS109-707-050 **Tanzania -** Rufiji R delta, almost never photographed.
The delta supports the largest mangrove forest on the east coast of
Africa. These mangroves support an extensive fishery, and are the
breeding area of a nationally important prawn fishery. The floodplain
and adjacent woodlands are floristically diverse, with substantial
endemism, and they contain commercially valuable forests. Wood poles are
exported. Over 150,000 people inhabit the delta and floodplain, the
majority of whom subsist by cultivation supplemented by fishing and
extraction of timber and other forest products. The Rufiji Environment
Management Project, working closely with the Rufiji District Council, is
an attempt to address the sustainable use of the floodplain while
maintaining its environmental integrity.

STS109-729-037 **Southern Madagascar -** Mangoky River delta

STS109-712-054 **Madagascar -** Mangoky River delta, southwestern
Madagascar

STS109-728-004 **Madagascar** - Mangoky delta, southwestern Madagascar -
general view

STS109-712-093 **Namibia** - Coastal sand spits at Walvis Bay (top) and
Sandwich Harbor (bottom)

STS109-716-153 **Namibia, South Africa** - Orange River mouth. Diamond
workings along coast and center pivot circles on floodplain.

STS109-716-145 **Namibia** - Shear lines within Benguela Current, with
two overlying swell patterns. Central Namibian coastline.

STS109-710-056 **Southwestern Atlantic Ocean -** Two intersecting sets
of internal waves, within the south-flowing Brazil Current (located off
the southern coast of Brazil). As internal waves travel along the
subsurface density boundary they can be refracted, reflected and
deflected around continental shelf features.

# Islands

STS109-722-091 **Zanzibar Island, Tanzania**. This reef-rimmed platform
formed during rifting and ocean formation, which occurred when the
supercontinent of Pangaea broke up about 200 million years ago. The
higher flight elevation of this mission permits documentation of the
geologic setting for reef development, whereas lower flight elevations
are better for nadir reef-mapping views.

STS109-722-090 **Pemba Island, Tanzania**. Pemba is part of the same
platform complex as Zanzibar. Other rifted margins that have been
colonized by reefs include northwestern Australia around Exmouth Gulf,
the Great Barrier Reef of eastern Australia, and the Bahama Banks

STS109-714-069 **Puerto Rico** - A rare, cloud free, synoptic view of
the entire island captured in sunglint.

STS109-711-052 **Haiti, Dominican Republic** - Rare cloud free, synoptic
view of the entire island of Hispaniola\-- with the eastern tip of Cuba
and some southern Bahama islands.

STS109-E-5404 **Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic** - This early morning
photo with its oblique aspect and low light provides an excellent
3-dimensional view of the eastern end of the mountainous island of
Hispaniola. Most of the capital city of Santo Domingo is visible in the
extreme upper right corner of the scene.

STS109-719-084 **Turks and Caicos Islands**, SE Bahama Bank and Great
Inagua Island. The Turks and Caicos (U.K.) are in the southern Bahamas
chain, part of the shallow marine platform that was created when Africa
and South America rifted away from North America to form the Atlantic.

STS109-714-062 **Great Inagua Island**, Bahamas

STS109-714-063 **Turks and Caicos Islands, detail**. Light streaks and
patches of carbonate sand (shell particles, grains of limestone) are
seen on the shallow platform (turquoise) where waters are a few meters
deep. On the north side of the islands, surf is breaking on the barrier
reef. Just south of the coast of N. Caicos Island is a blue hole, formed
by submarine dissolution of the limestone platform.

# Land Use and Agriculture

STS109-710-016 **Argentina** - CIR-landuse patterns, with fields on the
left showing more greening than those on the right for unexplained
reasons

STS109-339-027 **Brazil -** Three different land uses\--large
\"latifundia,\" small peasant lots, and intermediate and swamp-related
fields

STS109-722-004 **Argentina -** CVIS film \-- twin cities of Resistencia
(left) and Corrientes (right) on Parana R \-- compare CIR view

STS109-710-030 **Argentina -** IR-twin cities of Resistencia (left) and
Corrientes (right) on Parana R

STS109-722-007 **Brazil** - CVIS - Lagoa do Mirim

STS109-710-039 **Argentina, Paraguay.** CIR-Yacyretá lake (and dam),
with twin cities of Posadas (Argentina, lower) and Encarnación
(Paraguay-upper)

STS109-720-084 **Peru -** coastal delta, agricultural-sediment plumes in
Lake Titicaca

STS109-720-095 **Peru -** sediment plumes in Lake Titicaca. The meaning
of the name Titicaca is uncertain, but it has been variously translated
as Rock of the Puma or Crag of Lead. Titicaca lies between Andean ranges
in a vast basin (about 22,400 square miles \[58,000 square km\] in area)
that comprises most of the Altiplano (High Plateau) of the northern
Andes. In the snow-covered Cordillera Real on the northeastern
(Bolivian) shore of the lake, some of the highest peaks in the Andes
rise to heights of more than 21,000 feet (6,400 m).

STS109-707-042 **India -** Dense \"fish scale\" land use pattern, SE
India. These tanks hold monsoon rainwater for rice agriculture, and are
unique on the planet in such large number.

STS109-717-061 **Libya -** Center pivot irrigation in the Libyan desert
(compare STS73-748-95)

STS109-717-061 **Libya -** Center pivot irrigation in the Libyan desert
(compare STS73-748-95)

STS073-748-095 **Libya -** Libyan center pivot rows, Oct-Nov 1995
(compare STS109-717-61)

STS109-717-069 New rectangular desert land use pattern.

# Panoramas

STS109-716-058 **Venezuela -** Biome boundary-lowland savanna and
Guayana Highlands rainforest

STS109-729-089 **Argentina -** High desert plains (\"altiplano\") of the
Andes Mountains, and Chaco plains---panorama looking south

STS109-716-083 **Somalia & Interior -** Horn of Africa from the coastal
plains of Somalia to the plateaus of eastern Ethiopia. Panoramic view of
far eastern Africa illustrates the variety of colors of rock, soil, and
vegetation in this arid region.

STS109-716-084 **Somalia -** Horn of Africa from the coastal plains of
Somalia to the plateaus of eastern Ethiopia. Panoramic view of far
eastern Africa illustrates the variety of colors of rock, soil, and
vegetation in this arid region.

STS109-708-031 **Egypt -** Panorama of the Levant, with the Sinai
Peninsula center

STS109-708-052 **Chad -** Lake Chad and Tibesti massif, looking north

STS109-325-002 Sunglint, coppery glow, clouds

STS109-345-032 Sunset