The Phytoplankton Figure 8

This stunning photograph was recently taken by the Envisat satellite over the south Atlantic Ocean. The blues and greens shown here are phytoplankton blooms which are common this time of year when upwelling brings minerals to the surface feeding the phytoplankton.


Photo: An algae bloom in the shape of a figure 8 in the south Atlantic Ocean. (ESA)

The 8.8-ton Envisat spacecraft, which launched in 2002, is the largest non-military Earth-observing satellite ever built. The $2.3-billion craft carries a suite of 10 different instruments, with which it monitors the planet's land, oceans, atmosphere and ice caps continuously.
*
Envisat snapped the new photo with its Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), an instrument that measures the solar radiation reflected by Earth. MERIS images have a resolution of 1,000 feet (300 meters).

More:
Satellite snaps stunning figure 8 in ocean | MNN - Mother Nature Network

 

Wow! that is so cool

 

Neat!! That's is awesome!

 

That is awesome thanks for sharing.

 

That is so awesome!

 

so cool!