May 7th, 2012 Category: Deserts, Image of the day, Phytoplankton

Namibia - May 6th, 2012

A faint phytoplankton bloom hangs in the waters off the shores of Namibia. The bloom is situated west of the southern part of the Namib Desert, an immense dunefield with tall, orange sand dunes. Phytoplankton blooms are common in this area due to the mixing of hot and cold ocean currents.

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May 4th, 2012 Category: Image of the day, Phytoplankton, Rivers, Sediments

Argentina - April 15th, 2012

Opaque tan sediments color the waters of the Rio de la Plata Estuary, stretching between Argentina (below) and Uruguay (above). The city of Buenos Aires can be observed on the southern shores of the estuary, while Montevideo can be observed on the northern shores. Both cities appear as grey areas against the surrounding green terrain.

Slightly darked sediments also frame the shores of Samborombón Bay, located at the Rio de la Plata’s mouth, about 160 kilometres (99 mi) southeast of Buenos Aires. The bay receives the Salado and Samborombón Rivers. As the sediments from these rivers and the Rio de la Plata diffuse into the Atlantic Ocean, they become greenish in color. Further offshore, however, near the right edge of the image, is a green stain caused by phytoplankton growth.

Tags: Argentina Buenos Aires Montevideo Phytoplankton Rio de la Plata Salado River Samborombón Bay Samborombón River Sediments Uruguay | | Leave a comment

April 26th, 2012 Category: Deserts, Phytoplankton, Salt Flats, Sediments

Libya and Tunisia - April 14th, 2012

Bright blue and green sediments and phytoplankton can be observed in the Gulf of Gabes and all along the shores of Tunisia, stretching to the Libyan coastline as well. The color is darker green in the Gulf of Gabes and around the Kerkennah Islands, and bright blue east of Djerba.

Further inland, the Chott el Djerid appears as a large, dark tan area. It is a large endorheic salt lake in southern Tunisia and the largest salt pan of the Sahara, with a surface area of over 7,000 km2. South of Chott el Djerid, the Grand Erg Oriental desert begins.

Tags: Chott el Djerid Djerba Grand Erg Oriental Gulf of Gabes Kerkennah Islands Libya Sahara Desert Tunisia | | Leave a comment

April 22nd, 2012 Category: Phytoplankton

Argentina - April 14th, 2012

While sediments frame the Argentine coastline near Bahía Blanca in the upper right quadrant of this image, the green coloring near the right edge and center of the image is caused by the growth of phytoplankton. These tiny microscopic organisms are invisible to the naked eye until they begin to reproduce in great numbers due to high concentrations of nutrients, thus giving the ocean waters a green or blue stain.

Tags: Argentina Bahia Blanca Phytoplankton Valdés Peninsula | | Leave a comment

April 18th, 2012 Category: Phytoplankton, Rivers, Sediments

Argentina - April 17th, 2012

Sediments color two areas of Argentina’s eastern shoreline: visible in the upper right quadrant are tan sediments in the Rio de la Plata Estuary, near Buenos Aires, and visible further down the coast to the southwest are sediments near Bahía Blanca. Also visible near Bahía Blanca, but further offshore, are two small, teal colored phytoplankton blooms. Some sediments and/or phytoplankton can also been seen at the lower left, trailing off the Valdes Peninsula.

Tags: Argentina Bahia Blanca Buenos Aires Phytoplankton Rio de la Plata Sediments Valdés Peninsula | | Leave a comment

April 18th, 2012 Category: Fires, Image of the day, Phytoplankton, Sediments

Australia - April 18th, 2012

Several interesting phenomena can be observed in this image of northern Western Australia: first, multiple wildfires can be seen in the upper half of the image, particularly in the upper right quadrant, releasing plumes of smoke towards the west. Second, tan sediments can be seen in King Sound; most of these are released by the Fitzroy River and gradually diffuse into the sound and the Indian Ocean. Third, a small phytoplankton bloom can be observed near the left edge, west of the sound.

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April 16th, 2012 Category: Phytoplankton, Sediments

Argentina - April 14th, 2012

A small yet bright phytoplankton bloom can be observed off the coast of Argentina near the right edge of this image. Visible to the northwest of the bloom are sediments from the Naposta Stream flowing by the city of Bahía Blanca and into the Atlantic Ocean. Sediments or perhaps phytoplankton can also be observed trailing off the Valdes Peninsula at the lower left.

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April 13th, 2012 Category: Phytoplankton, Sediments

Australia - April 12th, 2012

Sediments and phytoplankton growth can be seen along the coast of Western Australia, near King Sound. This large gulf expands from the mouth of the Fitzroy River, one of Australia’s largest watercourses, and opens to the Indian Ocean. King Sound has the highest tides in Australia, and amongst the highest in the world, reaching a maximum tidal range of 11.8 metres at Derby. The lower reaches of the gulf show tan sediments. Further north, the bright colors more distant from the shoreline are probably caused by the growth of phytoplankton.

Tags: Australia Fitzroy River Indian Ocean King Sound Phytoplankton Sediments Western Australia | | Leave a comment

April 6th, 2012 Category: Phytoplankton, Sediments

Argentina - March 31st, 2012

A bright green phytoplankton bloom can be seen in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Bahía Blanca, Argentina (lower left quadrant). Phytoplankton and sediments can also be observed off the coast of Argentina near Mar del Plata, carried in a diagonal line towards the northeast by currents. North of Mar del Plata is the Rio de la Plata estuary, tan with sediments. Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, can be observed as a grey area by its shores.

Tags: Argentina Bahia Blanca Buenos Aires Mar del Plata Phytoplankton Rio de la Plata Sediments | | Leave a comment