June 25 is the Day of the Seafarer, a global event highlighting how much we rely on the maritime industry. Turns out, it’s a whole lot, as ships transport more than 80 percent of global trade. In honor of this occasion, we’re showing a NASA satellite view of ship tracks over the Pacific. And what are ship tracks, you ask? They’re clouds that form around particles in ship exhaust when it hits the damp ocean air. These clouds often stretch in narrow paths as in this image, reflecting ships’ courses. To the seafarers out there (1.5 million, according to the International Maritime Organization), we wish you smooth sailing and a good day at sea.
Tracking ships on the Day of the Seafarer
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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A treaty for science
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A long winter’s nap, perhaps?
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Flower of Life symbol drawn in snow
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Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
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Road to Sa Calobra, Majorca, Spain
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Edinburgh festivals
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National Find a Rainbow Day
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El Valle de la Luna, Chile
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Why you should thank a nurse today
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Sitting down and taking a stand
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Yarn bombing in the village of Gurnard, England
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Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
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Once upon a midafternoon dreary…
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Mysterious prairie mounds abound
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World Laughter Day—it s a hoot
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Spring comes to Glacier National Park
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Travel Sunday: San Francisco
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A peek behind the royal curtain
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A look at Uranus, seventh planet from the sun
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National Llama Day
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Valentines Day
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Light show at the skatepark
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Navajo Bridge in Marble Canyon
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All Rhodes lead to the beach
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On the rebirth of the Olympic Games
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Happy Birthday, Eiffel Tower
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A plot was afoot
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The Old City of Bern
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Porto Timoni beach, Greece
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Arches National Park, Utah