Phytoplankton bloom in the Black Sea

This MODIS image from May 5, 2002, shows Eastern Europe9s Black Sea brightly colored with a bloom of marine plant organisms. The bright blue color suggests that it could be coccolithophores, which have calcium carbonate, chalky, coverings. However, other organisms can appear bright blue, including the blue-green algae Trichodesmium. At upper right, the Sea of Azov is showing murkier waters, which could be a mixture of sediment, organic matter, and living organisms.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published May 9, 2002
Data acquired May 5, 2002

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Collection:

Visible Earth