MSGID: 1:317/3 6282912e   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   May 16, 2022 - Gulf of Carpentaria   
      
      Gulf of Cafpentaria, Wellesley Islands, Wetlands   
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      Glorious gem-like colors tinted the near-shore waters of the Gulf of   
      Carpentaria in mid-May 2022. The Moderate Resolution Imaging   
      Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a   
      true-color image of the southern section of the Gulf on May 13.   
      
      The Gulf of Carpentaria sits in the top (north) of Australia, with   
      Northern Territory on the west, Queensland on the east, and the Arafura   
      Sea in the north. Spanning about 300,000 square kilometers (115,830   
      square miles), the area of the Gulf is nearly the size of Italy.   
      Despite its large size, the Gulf of Carpentaria is shallow, averaging   
      55 to 66 meters (180 to 217 feet) and a maximum depth of only 82 meters   
      (269 feet). There are two major seasons in this region – the dry season   
      (April to November) and the wet season, when rains fall on the Gulf as   
      well as fill the rivers that pour into it, including the Gilbert River,   
      Cox River, Mission River, McArthur River, and Bynoe River.   
      
      Rich in biodiversity, the warm waters are home to a sunken coral reef,   
      large seagrass meadows, sections of soft sandy seafloor, undersea   
      pinnacles, and a coastal zone where freshwater meets the salty waters,   
      each contributing to the large amount of life living here. The reefs   
      contain many species unique to the region, including a diverse   
      community of large plate corals, abundant soft corals and dense sponge   
      corals. Seagrass meadows host herds of dugong, sea turtles, and   
      pipefish. The waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria are also home to sea   
      snakes, sharks, turtles, and a rich diversity of commercial fish   
      species as well as prawn, which are harvested in large numbers. The   
      shores of the southern Gulf are especially important for a variety of   
      bird species, especially waders and shorebirds. A portion of the   
      southeastern shore has been recognized as an Important Bird and   
      Biodiversity Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Aqua   
      Date Acquired: 5/13/2022   
      Resolutions:  1km (123.5 KB),  500m (314.7 KB),  250m (169.3   
      KB)   
      Bands Used: 1,4,3   
      Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC   
      
      
      
   https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2022-05-16   
       
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