MSGID: 1:317/3 64aaf5c2
PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08
TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08
July 9, 2023 - Bloom off British Columbia

   Bloom
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   Bright swirls colored the deep blue waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound
   off of northern British Columbia, Canada in early July 2023. The
   Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s
   Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of the scene on July 4.

   The jewel-toned hues appear to be caused by a spring bloom of
   phytoplankton—microscopic, plant-like organisms that live in these
   waters year-round in relatively small numbers. When conditions are
   favorable, that is, when there is enough nutrients, daylight, and the
   correct water temperatures, phytoplankton can reproduce explosively to
   create massive floating “blooms” that can easily be seen from space.

   The semi-circular and swirling patterns that are visible mark eddies
   that are formed by strong outflow currents from several rivers along
   the northwestern coast of British Columbia. In spring, these rivers
   carry abundant snowmelt which runs off the mountains as temperatures
   rise. Not only does this create strong currents, but the snowmelt helps
   bring nutrients into the rivers and this ultimately spurs the growth of
   phytoplankton.

   Image Facts
   Satellite:  Aqua
   Date Acquired: 7/4/2023
   Resolutions:  1km (111.4 KB),  500m (284.1 KB),  250m (607.8
   KB)
   Bands Used: 1,4,3
   Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2023-07-09
 
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