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A late spring phytoplankton bloom lit up the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in early June 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the jewel-toned waters on June 5.
Phytoplankton are microscopic plant-like organisms that float on the surface in the Atlantic Ocean in relatively small numbers year-round. When conditions are right (correct water temperature, enough light, plentiful nutrients), phytoplankton may reproduce explosively, creating massive colonies that can easily be seen from space. Phytoplankton are an essential component of the marine food web, providing food for other plankton, fish, and ultimately bigger creatures.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/5/2025
Resolutions:
1km (158.3 KB), 500m (449.2 KB), 250m (912.9 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC