Ocean Color Image Gallery

Southeastern Plumes

December rains brought sediments from rivers flowing to the East of the Rockies into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coastal region of the Southeastern United States. Dark waters, rich in dissolved organic matter are visible in the Northeastern part of the Gulf, while the large, sediment-rich plume from the Mississippi River extends far down the coast of Texas. Sediments are naturally present in these waters, but an increased amount due to erosion of human-affected lands can be detrimental to ecosystems.

This image was captured by the VIIRS instrument aboard the NOAA-20 satellite on December 18, 2023.