Satellite images of bright waters in the Barents Sea

Bright waters in this area were not seen during 1978-86 by the CZCS satellite (see global distribution), but in the last years there have been many striking images detected by SeaWiFS and MODIS. An analysis of earlier black-and-white satellite images suggests blooms also occurred in 1989-1992. In-situ sampling in August 2003 verified that the white waters are indeed E. huxleyi blooms.

[click on the small pictures on this page to view them at full size]




From August 1st, 2007. MODIS. Image courtesy of Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.



From August 29th, 2006. MODIS. Image courtesy of Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.



From August 27th, 2005. SeaWiFS image provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



From July 27th (left), July 30th (middle), and August 1st (right) 2004, as seen by MODIS and SeaWiFs (middle image). MODIS images courtesy of Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. SeaWiFS image provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



July 19th, 2003, as seen by MODIS. Image courtesy of Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.



July 12th, 2002. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



August 21st, 2002. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



August 22nd, 2002 with Novaya Zemlya in the top right corner, as seen by MODIS. Image courtesy of Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.



July 24th, 2001. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



July 29th, 2001. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



Sep 8th, 2000. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



July 14th, 2001. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



August 24th, 1999. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



30th Aug 1999. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.



fairly faint bloom between northern Norway and Svalbard on August 15th, 1998. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE.


Ehux home page

Toby Tyrrell : T.Tyrrell@noc.soton.ac.uk