File:Sediment in the Gulf of Mexico (2) edit.jpg

Summary

Much of the dirt that colours the water is likely re-suspended sediment dredged up from the sea floor in shallow waters. The tan-green sediment-coloured water transitions to clearer dark blue water near the edge of the continental shelf where the water becomes deeper. The ocean turbulence that brought the sediment to the surface is readily evident in the textured waves and eddies within the tan and green waters. <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hurricane_Ida_(2009)" title="Category:Hurricane Ida (2009)">Tropical Storm Ida</a> had come ashore over <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Alabama" class="mw-redirect" title="Alabama">Alabama</a> and <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a>, immediately east of the area shown here, a few hours before the image was acquired. The storm’s wind and waves may have churned up waters farther west. A second source of sediment is visible along the shore. Many rivers, including the <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River" title="Mississippi River">Mississippi River</a>, drain into the Gulf of Mexico in this region. The river plumes are dark brown that fade to tan and green as the sediment dissipates. Rivers throughout the region ran high, likely carrying more sediment than usual into the Gulf. The rivers also carry nutrients like <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Iron" title="Iron">iron</a> from <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Soil" title="Category:Soil">soil</a> and <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen" title="Nitrogen">nitrogen</a> from <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fertilizer" title="Category:Fertilizer">fertilizers</a>. These nutrients fuel the growth of <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Phytoplankton" title="Category:Phytoplankton">phytoplankton</a>, tiny, plant-like organisms that grow in the ocean surface waters. Phytoplankton blooms colour the ocean blue and green and may be contributing to the colour seen here.

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