Tweet
As the clouds parted over the North Atlantic Ocean on August 27, 2014 the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a brilliant true-color image of the region, including a pale blue stain tinting the normally deep blue ocean waters. This broad, swirling stain is caused by a bloom of phytoplankton.
Phytoplankton are tiny, single-celled plant-like organisms that live suspended in the waters of the North Atlantic year-round. They are primary producers in the ocean and form the base of the marine food chain. Although present year-round, they normally live in small numbers. When conditions are right – when nutrient levels, light and temperature all become favorable – phytoplankton can reproduce explosively, creating huge blooms that can easily be seen from space.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 8/27/2014
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC