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November 26, 2024 - Bloom Near the Falkland Islands
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Spectacular jewel-toned swirls filled the South Atlantic Ocean near the Falkland islands in late November 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of the expansive swath of bright water on November 19.
The gorgeous colors are the result of millions of microscopic, single-celled, plant-like organisms floating in the upper layer of ocean water. Called phytoplankton, these organisms contain pigments that reflect light. When conditions are favorable, phytoplankton can reproduce explosively and create massive floating colonies known as “blooms” that can be easily seen from space.
The Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, are a group of more than 700 islands situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km (310 miles) east of southern Argentina. Just two of the islands—East Falkland and West Falkland—comprise the bulk of the Connecticut-sized landmass. The Malvinas (Falkland) Current, which is cold and laden with nutrients, sweeps northward just off the Falkland Islands. This current often feeds large blooms, such as this one.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 11/19/2024
Resolutions:
1km (204.9 KB), 500m (480.1 KB), 250m (1 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Spectacular jewel-toned swirls filled the South Atlantic Ocean near the Falkland islands in late November 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of the expansive swath of bright water on November 19.
The gorgeous colors are the result of millions of microscopic, single-celled, plant-like organisms floating in the upper layer of ocean water. Called phytoplankton, these organisms contain pigments that reflect light. When conditions are favorable, phytoplankton can reproduce explosively and create massive floating colonies known as “blooms” that can be easily seen from space.
The Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, are a group of more than 700 islands situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km (310 miles) east of southern Argentina. Just two of the islands—East Falkland and West Falkland—comprise the bulk of the Connecticut-sized landmass. The Malvinas (Falkland) Current, which is cold and laden with nutrients, sweeps northward just off the Falkland Islands. This current often feeds large blooms, such as this one.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 11/19/2024
Resolutions:
1km (204.9 KB), 500m (480.1 KB), 250m (1 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
