Steam clouds
By: Louk Vreeswijk
Tags: Nature, Science, Volcanism
Category: New Zealand, Oceania
| Aperture: | f/6.5 |
|---|---|
| Focal Length: | 20mm |
| ISO: | 100 |
| Shutter: | 1/0 sec |
| Camera: | DMC-FS14 |
Steam clouds blowing about in the wind, briefly hiding the trees from view, then hastening further, fading away.
With this image I like to start a series of photos which I have in store for you the coming weeks about the marvellous phenomena of volcanic activity in the center of New Zealand’s North Island. The steam clouds in the picture are released at the Wairakei Geothermal Power Station that was constructed in this volcanic region over 50 years ago.
Rainwater seeps into the ground and comes in contact with very hot rock formations through which it heats up and becomes geothermal fluid. The steam that is produced in this process is recovered and then used to power the turbines which in turn produce electricity. This is in simple terms the principle that enables man to make good use of the volcanic activity that is unfolded here beneath the crust of the earth.
And the steam clouds floating so nicely through the trees, ….. they are just there to please our eyes.
Photos of the week: Wairakei Geothermal Power Station, North Island, New Zealand 2013
καιρός remembered 
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