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October 20, 2006

"Autumn Color, Estonian Bog"

"Autumn Color, Estonian Bog"

This aerial photo of Mannikjarve Bog in Estonia was acquired from a low height using a kite to lift a radio-controlled digital camera. The vertical view depicts the autumn color of mosses (Sphagnum), dwarf pine (Pinus) and other vegetation within and surrounding bog pools. The field of view is ~100 meters across.

The photo demonstrates remarkable autumn colors, in which the complex spatial organization of bog features is portrayed in stunning detail. These intricate patterns have resulted entirely from organic growth of the bog during the past several millennia. These complex and colorful spatial patterns depicted in this image cannot be seen on the ground, nor in conventional air photos or satellite images.

This photo was awarded first place in the Photography category of the 2005 Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge competition, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Journal Science. The competition is held each year to recognize outstanding achievements by scientists, engineers, visualization specialists and artists who are innovators in using visual media to promote the understanding of research results and scientific phenomena. To learn more about the competition and view all the winning entries, see the Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge Special Report. (Date of Image: September 2001)

Credit: J.S. Aber and S.W. Aber, Emporia State University, Kansas. K. Aaviksoo and E. Karofeld, Estonia


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