El Nino's Impact
An Immense Pacific Bloom
| This sequence illustrates the vast size and intensity of the ocean's
biological rebound from El Nino. Satellite imagery from NASA's
Sea-viewing Wide-Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) instrument showed
nearly a complete lack of plankton along the equatorial Pacific during
El Nino. The cool waters associated with La Nina brought nutrients
from the below the surface and enabled an enormous plankton bloom
(shown in green). |
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| September 1997 |
October 1997 |
November 1997 |
December 1997 |
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| January 1998 |
February 1998 |
March 1998 |
April 1998 |
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| May 1998 |
June 1998 |
July 1998 |
August 1998 |
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| September 1998 |
October 1998 |
November 1998 |
December 1998 |
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| January 1999 |
February 1999 |
March 1999 |
April 1999 |
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| May 1999 |
June 1999 |
Credit line for all images:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
The SeaWiFS Project and ORBIMAGE
Scientific Visualization Studio
NOTE: All SeaWiFS images and data presented on this website are for research and educational use only. All commercial use of SeaWiFS data must be coordinated with ORBIMAGE.
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