Images
December 23, 2014 - Phytoplankton bloom off New Zealand
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Brilliant blue streaks light the waters of the South Pacific Ocean east of New Zealand’s verdant landscape in December, 2014. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured this true-color image of a summer phytoplankton bloom on December 15.
The center of this image lies at about 44 degrees South latitude, and this is where the bright blue swirls appear. Further to the east, additional swirls of duller green (also a phytoplankton bloom) also appear.
Large areas of phytoplankton production are known to occur at roughly 40 degrees South latitude, which also the location of an area known as the Subtropical Front. This is where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and subtropical waters converge. As the different water masses collide, nutrients are dispersed and well upwards. When the lighting conditions are right, the combination of nutrients and sunlight spurs growth of the microscopic plant-like organisms knows as phytoplankton.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 12/15/2014
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Brilliant blue streaks light the waters of the South Pacific Ocean east of New Zealand’s verdant landscape in December, 2014. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured this true-color image of a summer phytoplankton bloom on December 15.
The center of this image lies at about 44 degrees South latitude, and this is where the bright blue swirls appear. Further to the east, additional swirls of duller green (also a phytoplankton bloom) also appear.
Large areas of phytoplankton production are known to occur at roughly 40 degrees South latitude, which also the location of an area known as the Subtropical Front. This is where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and subtropical waters converge. As the different water masses collide, nutrients are dispersed and well upwards. When the lighting conditions are right, the combination of nutrients and sunlight spurs growth of the microscopic plant-like organisms knows as phytoplankton.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 12/15/2014
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
