MSGID: 1:317/3 63e92941   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   February 12, 2023 - Blooms, Sediment, and Contrails over the Persian Gulf   
      
      Blooms and Contrails   
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      On February 10, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer   
      (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of   
      a very colorful Persian Gulf. The image is centered on the southern   
      Persian Gulf, which is flanked by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United   
      Arab Emirates on the south and Iran in the north. Part of the Strait of   
      Hormuz and Qeshm Island can be seen in the upper right.   
      
      Jewel-toned greens and tans color the waters of the Persian Gulf,   
      especially near the coast of the Arabian Peninsula. These tints are   
      likely primarily caused by sediment, possibly deposited by run-off from   
      land or from a recent heavy dust storm. When floating close to the   
      surface, sediment appears tan but as it sinks, it appears green and   
      then blue as it dissipates. It’s also likely that blooms of   
      phytoplankton contribute to the colorful waters. These microscopic   
      plant-like organisms live in these waters year-round and, when   
      conditions are favorable, can reproduce explosively to cause large   
      floating colonies that appear green or blue from space.   
      
      White streaks across the sky are condensation trails (contrails) and   
      mark the passage of aircraft. Contrails are a type of cirrus cloud that   
      forms in nearly the same way as naturally occurring cirrus. The   
      difference lies in the source of ingredients. Aircraft exhaust contains   
      an abundance of water vapor and small particles. At high altitudes,   
      where it’s cold enough—at least -39°C (-38°F)—the water vapor can   
      easily freeze onto the particles and form these long, narrow clouds.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Terra   
      Date Acquired: 2/10/2023   
      Resolutions:  1km (103.4 KB),  500m (282.7 KB),  250m (385.7   
      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=2023-02-12   
       
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