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This Envisat acquisition showing Typhoon Kirogi passing beneath Japan is the latest of more than 480 satellite images so far available for viewing in ESA's new Earth Images Gallery.
The Gallery is a user-friendly showcase of spectacular images acquired by ESA Earth Observation satellites. The collection can be searched on a geographical basis, using a spinning globe to specify a continent of interest. The site then displays the distribution of available images. Select one to view and its regional location is also shown. Alternatively, the images can be searched by keyword, or based on the mission that acquired them: either the ERS spacecraft, Envisat or Proba. Some non-ESA 'Third Party Mission' images are also planned to be included in future.
Additionally accessible are global maps based on satellite data, including a global land cover mosaic, a digital elevation model based on radar altimetry and Earth's average yearly sea surface temperature. New maps as well as satellite images will be added to the collection at http://www.esa.int/earthimages on a regular basis.
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'Typhoon' is the term for tropical cyclones that form in the Northwest Pacific west of the International Dateline. Tropical cyclones occur year-round in this region, with their peak in September.
Typhoon Kirogi formed in the Northwest Pacific in early October and proceeded in a roughly southwest direction, passing under the Japanese Islands towards the Philippines. The storm peaked around 16 October but is now reported to be losing power and poses no threat to populated areas other than from associated heavy rainfall and high waves.
This image of Typhoon Kirogi was acquired on 13 October 2005 by Envisat's Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) working in Reduced Resolution Mode, with a spatial resolution of 1200 metres and a swath width of 1345 kilometres.