MODIS satellite captures images of sediment flushed into the Gulf of Mexico
By Adriana Navarro, AccuWeather staff writer
March 23, 2019, 4:19:04 PM EDT
Share this article:
First, at vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui voluptatum.
MODIS Satellite
Sediment carried by the Mississippi River is dumped into the Gulf of Mexico as shown by MODIS satellite imagery.
MODIS Satellite
Soil and other contaminants are washed down the Mississippi River from the Central U.S. floods.
MODIS Satellite
The sediment is deposited in the Mississippi Delta.
MODIS Satellite
The nutrients from the carried sediment have contributed to algae blooms in the past, creating "dead zones" as they deplete the water of oxygen.
MODIS Satellite
The deposited sediment isn't just at the mouth of the Mississippi River, but ranges from Gulfport to Marsh Island.
NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) from the Terra satellite captured images of sediment from the Central U.S. floods that flushed into the Gulf of Mexico.
This is nothing new for the Gulf as snow melts in the spring and flows into the Mississippi River, sweeping away soil and other contaminants along with it. Typically, the soil would settle on the land near the river, but levees built to prevent flooding prevent the soil from settling out of the water.
"High concentrations of soil, fertilizer, and other nutrients from farms, lawns and sewage treatment plants pour into the northern Gulf of Mexico," according to NASA's Earth Observatory.
RELATED:
Springtime temperature swing to freeze, then thaw the Northeast this week
Locally heavy showers, storms to pulse through southern US early this week
Australia: Trevor moves inland across the Northern Territory bringing widespread flooding threat
Rising rivers to put more communities at risk of flood disaster in central US
"This sediment contributes to algae blooms, which can lead to the depletion of oxygen in the water and create "dead zones."
More Weather News
-
Lyrid meteor shower to peak on Monday night, will you be able to catch a glimpse of a shooting star?
Weather News - April 22, 2019, 9:25:53 AM EDT
The first major meteor shower in more than three months will give stargazers across Europe the chance to see frequent shooting stars in the coming nights.
-
Deadly earthquake rocks Philippines, buildings sway in Manila
Weather News - April 22, 2019, 9:19:19 AM EDT
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Monday.
-
Severe storms to rattle parts of the midwestern US on Monday
Weather News - April 22, 2019, 9:09:41 AM EDT
The same storm system that brought damaging winds and hail to southern Nebraska and northwestern Kansas on Easter Sunday will target parts of the Midwest with severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon and evening.
-
How Earth Day grew to empower 1 billion people worldwide to preserve our planet's health
Weather News
Every April 22, those passionate about restoring the planet’s health commemorate Earth Day, which was first recognized in 1970.
-
Massive landslide leaves at least 17 dead in Colombia
Weather News - April 22, 2019, 9:18:38 AM EDT
At least 17 people have been killed in a landslide in the southwestern Colombian province of Cauca, the country’s disaster relief agency said.
-
Wet weather to keep plaguing New England on Monday
Weather News - April 22, 2019, 2:19:07 AM EDT
After showers put a damper on Easter Sunday, another band of rain will spread into New England on Monday and may spoil outdoor plans for those with an extended holiday weekend.
-
Dry weather, building warmth to grace mid-Atlantic, southern US as storm cleanup continues
Weather News - April 22, 2019, 9:07:21 AM EDT
Calmer weather settling in over the southern and eastern United States early this week will continue to assist cleanup efforts in the wake of the three-day severe weather outbreak.
-
Severe weather, flood risks to ramp back up across south-central US this week
Weather News - April 22, 2019, 10:29:57 AM EDT
After a lull during the Easter holiday weekend, the risk for severe weather and flooding downpours will ramp back up across the south-central United States this week.
TRENDING NOW
Climate change has claimed its 1st mammal and more species are expected to follow
Scientists claimed the Bramble Cay melomys was the first mammal to go extinct from "human-induced" climate change.
Read Story
Where has the tornado threat been greatest in the US?
The historic numbers indicate one thing, but a look at the last five years -- and even this year -- shows something else.
Read Story
Deadly earthquake rocks Philippines, buildings sway in Manila
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Monday.
Read Story
Comments
Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.