A Pair of Icelandic CyclonesIcelandic Cyclones. Credit NASA/Jesse Allen

NASA’s Terra satellite, equipped with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, captured an image of a pair of Icelandic cyclones.

Cyclones in these higher latitudes are common and are key in shaping global weather patterns.

A cyclone is a low-pressure system where winds spiral inward. While tropical storms are often associated with cyclones, they can also form in mid- and high-latitude regions. For example, two cyclones developed south of Iceland on November 20, 2006.

source NASA