Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Big Island of Hawai'i

 
Original - This false-color composite (processed to simulate true color) image of Hawaii was constructed from data gathered between 1999 and 2001 by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) instrument, flying aboard the Landsat 7 satellite. The Landsat data were processed by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a landcover map. The black areas on the island (in this scene) that resemble a pair of sun-baked palm fronds are hardened lava flows formed by the active Mauna Loa Volcano. Just to the north of Mauna Loa is the dormant grayish Mauna Kea Volcano, which hasn’t erupted in an estimated 3,500 years. A thin greyish plume of smoke is visible near the island’s southeastern shore, rising from Kilauea—the most active volcano on Earth. Heavy rainfall and fertile volcanic soil have given rise to Hawaii’s lush tropical forests, which appear as solid dark green areas in the image. The light green, patchy areas near the coasts are likely sugar cane plantations, pineapple farms, and human settlements.
Reason
Enormous, valuable satellite image
Articles this image appears in
Hawaii, Hawaii (island)
Creator
Hawaii Land Cover Analysis project, NOAA Coastal Services Center
Good thought-- added to Landsat program. Spikebrennan (talk) 22:07, 10 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not promoted MER-C 07:58, 14 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]