Images
January 12, 2024 - Bloom in Long Bay
Tweet
The dark waters off the coast of western South Australia were aglow with stunning swirls of turquoise and green in early January 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of the colorful scene on January 11.
The bright colors were evidence of a bloom of phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like organisms that contain chlorophyll and other pigments. When conditions are optimal (correct temperatures, enough daylight, and sufficient nutrients) the tiny organisms can begin to reproduce explosively and can create massive floating blooms that are easily seen from space.
This multi-colored bloom was located in Long Bay, south of Kangaroo Island.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/11/2024
Resolutions:
1km (40.8 KB), 500m (105.6 KB), 250m (456.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The dark waters off the coast of western South Australia were aglow with stunning swirls of turquoise and green in early January 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of the colorful scene on January 11.
The bright colors were evidence of a bloom of phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like organisms that contain chlorophyll and other pigments. When conditions are optimal (correct temperatures, enough daylight, and sufficient nutrients) the tiny organisms can begin to reproduce explosively and can create massive floating blooms that are easily seen from space.
This multi-colored bloom was located in Long Bay, south of Kangaroo Island.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/11/2024
Resolutions:
1km (40.8 KB), 500m (105.6 KB), 250m (456.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
