Phytoplankton bloom near Cape Verde Islands - related image preview

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Phytoplankton bloom near Cape Verde Islands - related image preview

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Phytoplankton bloom near Cape Verde Islands - related image preview

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Phytoplankton bloom near Cape Verde Islands

Dust from the Sahara Desert blows out over the Atlantic Ocean, and nutrients present in the dust "fertilize" the water, supporting blooms of marine plant life. This true-color MODIS image from November 5, 2001, shows a bloom of phytoplankton occurring in the Atlantic Ocean beneath a cloud of dust. At the image's lower left are the Cape Verde Islands.


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

Published November 5, 2001
Data acquired November 5, 2001

Source:
Terra > MODIS
Topics:
Biosphere > Microbiota > Phytoplankton
Biosphere > Vegetation > Biomass
Biosphere > Vegetation > Phytoplankton
Collection:
Visible Earth