Images
December 11, 2018 - Bloom off of Argentina
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Stripes and swirls of brilliant colors graced the waters of the South Pacific Ocean in early December 2018. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of the scene on December 8.
The jewel-toned colors were the result of a spring phytoplankton bloom. When conditions are right, phytoplankton—microscopic plant-like organisms—undergo explosive growth, forming blooms big enough to be seen from space. To produce such blooms, phytoplankton need abundant sunlight, carbon dioxide, and dissolved nutrients. All of the necessary conditions frequently occur off the Argentina coast. The Malvinas (Falkland) Current flows northward along Argentina’s continental shelf, and winds may promote upwelling that brings nutrient-rich water up to the surface.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 12/8/2018
Resolutions:
1km (1 MB), 500m (2.5 MB), 250m (2 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Stripes and swirls of brilliant colors graced the waters of the South Pacific Ocean in early December 2018. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of the scene on December 8.
The jewel-toned colors were the result of a spring phytoplankton bloom. When conditions are right, phytoplankton—microscopic plant-like organisms—undergo explosive growth, forming blooms big enough to be seen from space. To produce such blooms, phytoplankton need abundant sunlight, carbon dioxide, and dissolved nutrients. All of the necessary conditions frequently occur off the Argentina coast. The Malvinas (Falkland) Current flows northward along Argentina’s continental shelf, and winds may promote upwelling that brings nutrient-rich water up to the surface.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 12/8/2018
Resolutions:
1km (1 MB), 500m (2.5 MB), 250m (2 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
