Images
May 13, 2026 - Bloom in the Black Sea
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Dramatic jewel-toned swirls colored the dark waters of the Black Sea in mid-May 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-colored image of the shining scene on May 12.
The glowing greens and turquoise mark floating colonies of microscopic plant-like organisms known as phytoplankton. These tiny organisms live in these waters year-round and, when conditions are right (plentiful nutrients, correct temperature, and ample sunlight), they can reproduce explosively creating large “blooms’ that can easily be seen from space.
The different colors mark blooms dominated by different species of phytoplankton. Each swirl traces different currents that stir the waters of the Black Sea. Such blooms are common here, often starting in spring and continuing through the summer.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/12/2026
Resolutions:
1km (230.4 KB), 500m (491.3 KB), 250m (1.1 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Dramatic jewel-toned swirls colored the dark waters of the Black Sea in mid-May 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-colored image of the shining scene on May 12.
The glowing greens and turquoise mark floating colonies of microscopic plant-like organisms known as phytoplankton. These tiny organisms live in these waters year-round and, when conditions are right (plentiful nutrients, correct temperature, and ample sunlight), they can reproduce explosively creating large “blooms’ that can easily be seen from space.
The different colors mark blooms dominated by different species of phytoplankton. Each swirl traces different currents that stir the waters of the Black Sea. Such blooms are common here, often starting in spring and continuing through the summer.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/12/2026
Resolutions:
1km (230.4 KB), 500m (491.3 KB), 250m (1.1 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
