"The wave pattern seen in the image is not from large ocean waves,
however.
The pattern is of atmospheric gravity waves on the surface of
the ocean. As the name implies, atmospheric gravity waves form when
buoyancy pushes air up, and gravity pulls it back down. On its descent
into the low-point of the wave (the trough), the air touches the surface
of the ocean, roughening the water.
The long, vertical dark lines show
where the troughs of gravity waves have roughened the surface. The
brighter regions show the crests of the atmospheric waves. Beneath the
crests, the water is calm and reflects light directly back towards the
sensor."
Some additional details at
NASA.
These are not the same as the cosmic gravitational waves much in the
news this past week. I don't understand what's going on here, but I
think it's cool.
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