RIVER PLUMES ON THE GULF COAST—On
Nov. 7, 2004, a satellite captured the outflow of river
sediments and dissolved nutrients into the Gulf of Mexico,
as well as the abundance of algae and phytoplankton in
the water. Dark green or black patches near the shore
indicate blooms of marine plants. White spots are clouds.
Each summer, a stagnant, oxygen-depleted “dead
zone” forms in the middle of the Gulf, likely caused
by a surplus of nutrients from inland sources. (SeaWiFS Project, NASA Goddard, and ORBIMAGE.)[back]
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