Atlas Mountains and Mt. Toubkal Shadow

October 23, 2015

Panotoub (1)

Photographer: Besancon Arnaud
Summary Author: Besancon Arnaud; Jim Foster
 
Shown above is a panoramic view of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Note the sharp, triangular shadow of Mt. Toubkal (13,671 ft or 4,167 m), at center. When the Sun is low, mountain shadows can be projected on the distant atmosphere providing there's sufficient dust (or other aerosols) in the lower troposphere to scatter sunlight. Inside the shadowed region, scattered sunlight is absent. Strong south winds, on occasion, carry dust and even sand grains from the Sahara Desert over the Atlas Mountains. Because of perspective even flat-topped summits projected on the atmosphere appear triangular. Photo taken on August 24, 2014.