Sumatra surrounded by clouds

Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features an astronaut view of Sumatra, one of the largest islands of Indonesia, surrounded by clouds.

The bright clouds are produced by thunderstorms. They create dark shadows over the land and ocean below. 

A narrow strait between Sumatra and the neighboring Bangka and Belitung Islands is highlighted by sunglint, or the Sun’s reflection on the water.

The west coast of Borneo is also visible in the photograph, as well as cloud-free zones over the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer