Start Date: End Date: Published Date Data Date
Data acquired July 29 - 29, 2002 650 x 850 83 KB - JPEG
Data acquired July 29 - 29, 2002 1300 x 1700 252 KB - JPEG
Data acquired July 29 - 29, 2002 2600 x 3400 659 KB - JPEG
This Terra MODIS image of Newfoundland Island, Canada features a phytoplankton bloom in the waters of the Cabot Strait. Phytoplankton are tiny microorganisms that thrive in cold, nutrient-rich waters and which use chlorophyll to create energy. It is the reflection of sunlight off of the chlorophyll that turns the water this particularly vibrant shade of turquoise. The swirls in the bloom are caused by currents in the Cabot Strait moving around the upper layers of the water where the phytoplankton live.
To the left of Newfoundland Island is the province of Newfoundland, and just visible in the bottom left corner is Nova Scotia. This true-color image was acquired July 29, 2002.
Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC
Published August 26, 2002 Data acquired July 29 - 29, 2002