Images
May 1, 2026 - Colors off South America
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Bright colors swirled off the coast of South America in late April 2026, tinting the water of the Atlantic Ocean in tones of tan and teal. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the scene on April 30.
The colorful streak hugs the coast of Uruguay (south) and southern Brazil (north). Closest to shore, the primary color is tan that quickly fades to green. Further away from shore teal (blue-green) and light blue tones predominate. The color pattern and location strongly suggest that the colors are the result of a mixture of sediment and a bloom of phytoplankton—microscopic floating, plant-like organisms.
Several large storms passed over this region in April 2026, dumping copious rain, stirring up lashing waves, and sweeping sediment from the shore into the ocean. Sediment appears tan when it floats on the surface. However, when sediment sinks under the surface its reflectivity changes, causing a change in color (from tan to green) when viewed from above.
Phytoplankton live in these waters year-round in large numbers and, when conditions are right, can burst into explosive reproduction to create large floating colonies called “blooms” that are easily seen from space. Run-off, including sediment, can provide nutrients that drive this reproduction. Because phytoplankton contain pigments, such as chlorophyll, they are typically colored in blues, green, or teal as seen on the edge of the color in this image.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 4/30/2026
Resolutions:
1km (609.8 KB), 500m (1.5 MB), 250m (2.1 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Bright colors swirled off the coast of South America in late April 2026, tinting the water of the Atlantic Ocean in tones of tan and teal. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the scene on April 30.
The colorful streak hugs the coast of Uruguay (south) and southern Brazil (north). Closest to shore, the primary color is tan that quickly fades to green. Further away from shore teal (blue-green) and light blue tones predominate. The color pattern and location strongly suggest that the colors are the result of a mixture of sediment and a bloom of phytoplankton—microscopic floating, plant-like organisms.
Several large storms passed over this region in April 2026, dumping copious rain, stirring up lashing waves, and sweeping sediment from the shore into the ocean. Sediment appears tan when it floats on the surface. However, when sediment sinks under the surface its reflectivity changes, causing a change in color (from tan to green) when viewed from above.
Phytoplankton live in these waters year-round in large numbers and, when conditions are right, can burst into explosive reproduction to create large floating colonies called “blooms” that are easily seen from space. Run-off, including sediment, can provide nutrients that drive this reproduction. Because phytoplankton contain pigments, such as chlorophyll, they are typically colored in blues, green, or teal as seen on the edge of the color in this image.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 4/30/2026
Resolutions:
1km (609.8 KB), 500m (1.5 MB), 250m (2.1 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
