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Coastal Current, Namibia Target Name:   Earth Spacecraft:   Space Shuttle Produced by:   NASA Copyright:  Copyright Free; Caption LPI Cross Reference:   ISS006-E-6176 Date Taken:   2002-12-08 Related Document Clouds From Space Download Options Name Type Width x Height Size nambia.jpg JPEG 640 x 424 56K nambia.jpg JPEG 1516 x 1004 252K nambia.jpg JPEG 3032 x 2007 1M Condensing moisture from ocean currents in some parts of the world creates clouds that stay uniformly in position above that current for months at a time. This example shows clouds hanging above the cold Benguela current, which travels northward along the Atlantic coast of southwestern Africa. It is interesting that while the ocean is densely cloud-covered and the clouds lap at the coast, they never cross the coastline. The pinkish-colored Namib Desert is one of the driest places on Earth, confirming that the cloud associated with the ocean current does not stry off its prescribed track. Indeed the Namib Desert is home to unique inhabitants - insects with leg hairs especially adapted to collect moisture from morning dew - a strange irony of life on Earth where moisture-laden clouds hang so close by.

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