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June 19, 2024 - Bloom off of the East Coast of the United States
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A spring phytoplankton bloom in the Atlantic Ocean stretched from Long Island, New York to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia in mid-June 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of the scene on June 15.
The jewel-like colors were produced by massive floating colonies of phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like organisms that live in these waters year-round in relatively small numbers. When conditions are favorable — correct water temperature, daylight length, and nutrient levels—phytoplankton can reproduce explosively, creating large blooms that can easily be viewed from space.
Phytoplankton blooms are common in most of the world’s oceans and occur regularly in the Atlantic Ocean off of the East Coast of the United States in spring and summer. The color, extent of the bloom, and location all change with time, currents, and water conditions. This particular bloom first appeared in May and has expanded as the springtime progressed.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 6/15/2024
Resolutions:
1km (144.3 KB), 500m (369.7 KB), 250m (908.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A spring phytoplankton bloom in the Atlantic Ocean stretched from Long Island, New York to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia in mid-June 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of the scene on June 15.
The jewel-like colors were produced by massive floating colonies of phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like organisms that live in these waters year-round in relatively small numbers. When conditions are favorable — correct water temperature, daylight length, and nutrient levels—phytoplankton can reproduce explosively, creating large blooms that can easily be viewed from space.
Phytoplankton blooms are common in most of the world’s oceans and occur regularly in the Atlantic Ocean off of the East Coast of the United States in spring and summer. The color, extent of the bloom, and location all change with time, currents, and water conditions. This particular bloom first appeared in May and has expanded as the springtime progressed.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 6/15/2024
Resolutions:
1km (144.3 KB), 500m (369.7 KB), 250m (908.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
