Tan and green clouds of sediment clouded the Gulf of Mexico on November 10, 2009.
Published Nov 13, 2009
The winter-white Alaska shoreline provides a vivid contrast to the turquoise swirls in the black waters of the Gulf of Alaska. This burst of color in an otherwise black-and-white scene is caused by sediment, ground into fine powder by mountain glaciers and carried into the Gulf of Alaska through many waterways. The largest contributor of sediment shown in this photo-like image is the Copper River, immediately east of Prince William Sound.
Published Jan 18, 2007
Acquired February 5, 2011, this natural-color image shows sediment suspended along the Queensland coast, near the city of Townsville.
Published Feb 7, 2011
Natural-color satellite images can capture art-like beauty when sediments trace water currents and eddies; other kinds of data can make that art intersect with scientific understanding.
Published Feb 1, 2020
In the wake of Hurricane Irene’s heavy rains, sediment filled the Hudson River and New York Harbor.
Published Sep 2, 2011
Soft shades of turquoise and tan color the waters of the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound in this photo-like image captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on March 13, 2008. Though the swirls may look delicate from space, they hint at an ocean in turmoil. Strong winds and high waves likely churned the ocean, bringing sediment to the surface in the shallow waters over the continental shelf. The deeper waters beyond the shelf edge in the lower right corner of the image are dark blue, not clouded by sediment.
Published Apr 1, 2008
Acquired November 10, 2009, this true-color image shows peacock-hued waters swirling off the coast of Chile, north and south of Punta Lavapié.
Published Nov 12, 2009
