Images
July 9, 2026 - Bloom off of New England
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Brilliant jewel tones swirled in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New England in early July 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of a colorful summer bloom on July 4.
The bright colors are the result of blooms of phytoplankton—microscopic plant-like organisms. Phytoplankton live in these waters in relatively small number year-round. When conditions are right (warm water, plentiful nutrients, and adequate sunlight) they can reproduce explosively to create massive colonies (blooms) that can easily be seen from space.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 7/4/2026
Resolutions:
1km (169 KB), 500m (367 KB), 250m (743.3 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Brilliant jewel tones swirled in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New England in early July 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of a colorful summer bloom on July 4.
The bright colors are the result of blooms of phytoplankton—microscopic plant-like organisms. Phytoplankton live in these waters in relatively small number year-round. When conditions are right (warm water, plentiful nutrients, and adequate sunlight) they can reproduce explosively to create massive colonies (blooms) that can easily be seen from space.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 7/4/2026
Resolutions:
1km (169 KB), 500m (367 KB), 250m (743.3 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
