Images
May 6, 2024 - Bloom off the Korean Peninsula
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Swirls of bright turquoise and dull green colored the waters off the Korean Peninsula in late April and early May 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of the gorgeous colors on May 2.
The brightest swirls floats just north of the island of Ulleungdo, South Korea but a careful look at the image shows that duller colors are seen throughout the Sea of Japan (East Sea). These colors are caused by phytoplankton—microscopic, pigmented, plant-like organisms that live in relatively small numbers in the oceans year-round. When conditions are right, they can reproduce explosively to create massive blooms that can easily be seen from space.
There are many species of phytoplankton found in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The variation in colors and brightness may be due to an abundance of different species in each location, each with a different primary pigment.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/2/2024
Resolutions:
1km (120.8 KB), 500m (307.8 KB), 250m (867.4 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Swirls of bright turquoise and dull green colored the waters off the Korean Peninsula in late April and early May 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of the gorgeous colors on May 2.
The brightest swirls floats just north of the island of Ulleungdo, South Korea but a careful look at the image shows that duller colors are seen throughout the Sea of Japan (East Sea). These colors are caused by phytoplankton—microscopic, pigmented, plant-like organisms that live in relatively small numbers in the oceans year-round. When conditions are right, they can reproduce explosively to create massive blooms that can easily be seen from space.
There are many species of phytoplankton found in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The variation in colors and brightness may be due to an abundance of different species in each location, each with a different primary pigment.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/2/2024
Resolutions:
1km (120.8 KB), 500m (307.8 KB), 250m (867.4 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
