Date: December 1, 1991

Photo Title: Thunderstorm in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

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Description:

This very large thunderstorm was photographed in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar (25.0N, 56.0E). The storm is about 65 nautical miles on a side and has an overshooting cloud top. Overshooting clouds result from strong updrafts rising from the troposphere, the portion of the atmosphere near the surface, where most of the Earth's weather occurs. The top reaches into the stratosphere at 45,000 to 50,000 ft. and casts long shadows in the low sun.

Credit: NASA/JSC

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