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March 12, 2025 - Bloom off Namibia
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Jewel-like colors shimmered in the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean off Namibia in early March 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image on March 10.
The spectacular colors are the result of a massive bloom of small plant-like organisms floating near the surface of the ocean. Known as phytoplankton, these organisms thrive in these waters year-round, but in lower numbers. Given adequate nutrients, water temperatures, and sunlight, phytoplankton can reproduce explosively to create massive colonies (blooms) that can easily be seen from space.
Blooms are common in the coastal waters off of Namibia, where currents sweep cold, nutrient-rich water northward from Antarctica. These currents interact with the coastal shelf, causing upwelling, which pushes nutrients upward towards the surface, where they nourish phytoplankton. In turn, phytoplankton form the base of the marine food web and help create a rich and thriving marine ecosystem.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 3/10/2025
Resolutions:
1km (35.1 KB), 500m (208.1 KB), 250m (453.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Jewel-like colors shimmered in the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean off Namibia in early March 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image on March 10.
The spectacular colors are the result of a massive bloom of small plant-like organisms floating near the surface of the ocean. Known as phytoplankton, these organisms thrive in these waters year-round, but in lower numbers. Given adequate nutrients, water temperatures, and sunlight, phytoplankton can reproduce explosively to create massive colonies (blooms) that can easily be seen from space.
Blooms are common in the coastal waters off of Namibia, where currents sweep cold, nutrient-rich water northward from Antarctica. These currents interact with the coastal shelf, causing upwelling, which pushes nutrients upward towards the surface, where they nourish phytoplankton. In turn, phytoplankton form the base of the marine food web and help create a rich and thriving marine ecosystem.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 3/10/2025
Resolutions:
1km (35.1 KB), 500m (208.1 KB), 250m (453.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
