Images
June 6, 2010 - Phytoplankton Bloom in the Atlantic
Tweet
Colorful phytoplankton blooms continued in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland and south of Greenland on May 30th when the MODIS on the Terra satellite captured this image. Phytoplankton are tiny marine organisms that, 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.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 05/30/2010
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Colorful phytoplankton blooms continued in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland and south of Greenland on May 30th when the MODIS on the Terra satellite captured this image. Phytoplankton are tiny marine organisms that, 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.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 05/30/2010
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
