Phytoplankton off the Coast of Portugal

Phytoplankton off the Coast of Portugal

A large phytoplankton bloom off of the coast of Portugal can be seen in this true-color image taken on April 23, 2002, by the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite. The bloom is roughly half the size of Portugal and forms a bluish-green cloud in the water. The red spots in northwest Spain denote what are likely small agricultural fires.

Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC