This true-color
satellite view of the
Hawaiian Islands shows that most of the
vegetation on the islands grows on the northeast sides which face the
trade winds. The silver glow around the calmer southwest sides is the result of the shelter provided from the islands. Hawaii's mountains, the ocean current, and water temperature combine to create a "
wind wake" that extends for 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) to the southwest—ten times longer than any other.Photo: Jacques Descloitres,
MODIS team at
NASA