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September 14, 2026 - Mauritania's Green Glow
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Jewel-like green tones colored the water off of Mauritania on May 2, 2024, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image.
This aqueous glow is a near-daily phenomenon in this location off of Mauritania’s coast. The color comes from a combination of phytoplankton and suspended sediment. Samples collected in this region typically turn up large quantities of diatoms, a type of microscopic algae with silica shells and packed with chlorophyll.
Diatoms are one of the most common types of phytoplankton in the ocean and thrive in nutrient-rich waters, especially in waters where plenty of mixing brings nutrients up from the depths. In this spot off of Mauritania, that’s exactly what happens. Trade winds blow westward nearly constantly, displacing the surface water. This drives upwelling, where colder waters rise up from the depths. And with the upwelling comes nutrients. In addition, iron-rich Saharan dust adds nutrients to the waters in this location, helping to create the perfect stew for phytoplankton growth.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 5/2/2024
Resolutions:
1km (583 KB), 500m (1.1 MB), 250m (270.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MO'DIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Jewel-like green tones colored the water off of Mauritania on May 2, 2024, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image.
This aqueous glow is a near-daily phenomenon in this location off of Mauritania’s coast. The color comes from a combination of phytoplankton and suspended sediment. Samples collected in this region typically turn up large quantities of diatoms, a type of microscopic algae with silica shells and packed with chlorophyll.
Diatoms are one of the most common types of phytoplankton in the ocean and thrive in nutrient-rich waters, especially in waters where plenty of mixing brings nutrients up from the depths. In this spot off of Mauritania, that’s exactly what happens. Trade winds blow westward nearly constantly, displacing the surface water. This drives upwelling, where colder waters rise up from the depths. And with the upwelling comes nutrients. In addition, iron-rich Saharan dust adds nutrients to the waters in this location, helping to create the perfect stew for phytoplankton growth.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 5/2/2024
Resolutions:
1km (583 KB), 500m (1.1 MB), 250m (270.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MO'DIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
