The narrow clouds form when water vapor condenses around tiny particles of pollution.
Image of the Day Atmosphere
Image of the Day Land Water Unique Imagery
Ship-breaking operations along the coast of Bangladesh recycle old vessels into raw steel and marine supplies.
Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence
Ships and islands contributed to an intricate cloud pattern over the northern Pacific Ocean in April 2013.
Elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide popped out over certain shipping lanes when observed by Aura.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Human Presence
Serpentine clouds crossed tracks in the eastern Pacific Ocean in mid-January 2013.
Acquired October 5, 2009, this true-color image shows ship trails, which appear brighter and denser than the surrounding clouds, embedded in a cloud bank off the west coast of North America.
Atmosphere Water Unique Imagery
Ship tracks are a common atmospheric occurrence. Scientists are now combining machine learning and satellites to detect them automatically.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Unique Imagery Human Presence Remote Sensing
Summer is the time for ship tracks—especially off the west coast of North America.
Sediment plumes reveal busy shipping lanes leading toward ports in northern China.
Image of the Day Water Human Presence
Against the odds, the landmass that exploded and oozed into existence in early 2015 is now nearly five years old.
Image of the Day Land Water Volcanoes Remote Sensing
Unique Imagery