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May 25, 2020 - Lakes Ontario and Erie
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On May 21, 2020, NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, allowing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) on board to acquire a true-color image of silvery-colored water across both lakes. Lake Erie, in the southwest, appeared to carry a larger percentage of discolored water than Lake Ontario.
The whitish-silver coloration may be caused by what is known as a “whiting event”. Such events often occur in lakes with hard water as temperature increases. The increasing temperature allows fine particles of calcium carbonate to form in the water column. Increased photosynthesis by phytoplankton and other microscopic marine life can also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the water column, changing the acidity and allowing calcium carbonate to form. These particles of calcium carbonate cause the characteristic lightening (“whiting”) of the water color observed in such events.
Some of the color may also be from sediment carried into the lakes from recent heavy rains in the region. Suspended sediment stirred up from the lake floors may also contribute.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/21/2020
Resolutions:
1km (149.2 KB), 500m (430.5 KB), 250m (899.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On May 21, 2020, NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, allowing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) on board to acquire a true-color image of silvery-colored water across both lakes. Lake Erie, in the southwest, appeared to carry a larger percentage of discolored water than Lake Ontario.
The whitish-silver coloration may be caused by what is known as a “whiting event”. Such events often occur in lakes with hard water as temperature increases. The increasing temperature allows fine particles of calcium carbonate to form in the water column. Increased photosynthesis by phytoplankton and other microscopic marine life can also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the water column, changing the acidity and allowing calcium carbonate to form. These particles of calcium carbonate cause the characteristic lightening (“whiting”) of the water color observed in such events.
Some of the color may also be from sediment carried into the lakes from recent heavy rains in the region. Suspended sediment stirred up from the lake floors may also contribute.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/21/2020
Resolutions:
1km (149.2 KB), 500m (430.5 KB), 250m (899.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
