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Re:Gabe Newell applies for NZ residency by londons_explore on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @04:55AM (#24835215)
This naturally happens on land which is steep and causes clouds to form as winds blow ocean air over them.

Since clouds form so regularly, mapping providers have a lot of difficulty getting a shot of the whole area in daylight with no clouds, so they end up using algorithms to stitch together the best image they can get from cloud-free parts.

In areas with snow, the problem is even worse, because an algorithm to separate snow and cloud is even harder.

Re:Gabe Newell applies for NZ residency by cheschire on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @05:48AM (#24835509)
Absolutely, and is a relevant explanation for many of these instances around the world.

However there are plenty of instances near disputed areas where resolution is lost, images are outdated etc, and it starts to become a pattern separate from what you're describing.

I mean just as the most obvious example of manipulation, look at the lack of 3D imaging in parts of Washington D.C.

It's not indicative of ill-will, and is obviously in support of operational security, but it's still clearly a decision made with non-scientific reasons.