Rare ‘sunglint’ transforms Alabama River into a giant ‘golden dragon’ — Earth from space
QUICK FACTS
Where is he? Boykin, Alabama [32.10219570, -87.28911406]
What’s in the photo? A “solar tint” that makes the Alabama River look like a golden Chinese dragon
Who took the photo? An anonymous astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS)
When was it taken? June 26, 2023
This incredible astronaut photo captured a unique glimpse of Alabama’s eponymous river disguising itself as a golden Chinese dragon. The metallic hue of the serpentine waterway is the result of a rare optical phenomenon visible only from space.
The section of river in the photo features a large U-shaped bend, known as Gee’s Bend, which surrounds the small town of Boykin, known for its “vibrant folk art” displayed across the country, according to NASA Earth Observatory.
The river’s unusual glow is the result of a rare phenomenon, known as solar flare, which occurs when sunlight reflects perfectly off a body of calm water back to an observer in space, like a massive liquid mirror. This is similar to the way the surface of an ocean or lake sparkles when light reflects off it during a sunset – except the only people who can see it are astronauts.
The golden color of the sun helps create a greater contrast between the water and the land, highlighting a series of flooded areas. Combined with the wider curves of the river, this gives the waterway a surprising appearance. like a dragon from Chinese mythologyInternet users pointed out at the time.
The Dragon’s Head (located on the left of the image) is represented by the flooded areas of the artificial William “Bill” Dannelly Reservoir, created in the 1960s by partially damming the river. This 70 square kilometer reservoir generates hydroelectric power via a dam and has also become a popular fishing spot for people looking to catch crappie, bass and catfish.
River water levels rose higher than initially expected after the dam was built, causing the stream to permanently overflow into surrounding floodplains, such as at Chilatchee Creek (near Dragon’s Tail Bend) and around Gee’s Bend, according to the Earth Observatory.
Most bodies of water are generally take on a silvery, mirror-like appearance when lit by the sun’s reflections, making the golden glow of the Alabama River particularly notable.
The unusual golden color is likely the result of atmospheric scattering of light reflected from aerosols, dust and haze. This scatters the blue wavelengths of light, giving the remaining light a more yellow hue.
Astronauts are always on the lookout for solar reflections, especially over the ocean, because they can reveal hidden natural phenomena, such as internal gyres and waves, as well as human activities, such as ship wakes and oil spills, the study found. National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service.
For more incredible satellite photos and astronaut images, check out our Earth seen from space archives.
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