Color off the Coast of South Australia

On February 29, 2016, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image of colorful blue-green water off the coast of South Australia. The striking colors could be due to sediment brought to the surface when strong winds churn shallow waters. Some of the color also could be due to phytoplankton—microscopic plant-like organisms that sometimes show up in this area.

• References

• Bierman, P. et al. (2008, July) Understanding Phytoplankton Variability Throughout Spencer Gulf, South Australia, via Satellite Derived Chlorophyll-A. IGARSS, 4 (2008), 902–905.

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NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response. Caption by Kathryn Hansen.

Published February 29, 2016
Data acquired February 29, 2016

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response