February 4, 2010 - Phytoplankton Bloom off Chile

Phytoplankton Bloom off Chile

Swirls of blue are visible in the waters of the southern Pacific Ocean in this image captured by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite on January 23, 2010. The color is caused by the presence of plantlike organisms called phytoplankton. The waters along the west coast of South America are some of the most biologically fertile in the world. This bloom of phytoplankton is off the coast of Chile.

Phytoplankton, much like their land-based plant relatives, use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into food. Some species of phytoplankton are coated with scales of calcium (chalk), which can turn the water electric blue. Chlorophyll and other light-capturing pigments in others give the water a deep green hue. The proliferation of many different species in various stages of growth and decay can provide many nuances of color. The phytoplankton in this image seem to be mainly blue.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 01/23/2010
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC