Images
July 15, 2025 - Bloom off of Newfoundland
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Bright swirls colored the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the North Atlantic Ocean near Newfoundland, Canada in mid-July 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image on July 14.
The brilliant colors come from floating colonies of phytoplankton—microscopic plant-like organisms that live in these waters in relatively small numbers year-round. When conditions (such as temperature, nutrient availability, and adequate sunlight) are right, these tiny organisms can reproduce explosively, creating large blooms that can easily be seen from space.
The first signs of this summer bloom were captured by Terra MODIS peeking through clouds in the last days of June. The size and brightness increased steadily over the last two weeks. Blooms are common in this region, especially in the summer months.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 7/13/2025
Resolutions:
1km (560.7 KB), 500m (1.4 MB), 250m (3.2 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Bright swirls colored the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the North Atlantic Ocean near Newfoundland, Canada in mid-July 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image on July 14.
The brilliant colors come from floating colonies of phytoplankton—microscopic plant-like organisms that live in these waters in relatively small numbers year-round. When conditions (such as temperature, nutrient availability, and adequate sunlight) are right, these tiny organisms can reproduce explosively, creating large blooms that can easily be seen from space.
The first signs of this summer bloom were captured by Terra MODIS peeking through clouds in the last days of June. The size and brightness increased steadily over the last two weeks. Blooms are common in this region, especially in the summer months.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 7/13/2025
Resolutions:
1km (560.7 KB), 500m (1.4 MB), 250m (3.2 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
