SeaWiFS: Productive Pacific off Central America

This SeaWiFS image of Central America was collected on November 12, 2001. Along the southern edge of the image you can see the clouds of the inter-tropical convergence zone. North of the clouds, various shades of green in the water result from dense populations of phytoplankton which thrive in persistent upwelling regimes in the area such as the Costa Rica Dome. The Costa Rica Dome is a large area west of Costa Rica where the thermocline comes very near to the sea surface.

---

Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE

Published November 12, 2001
Data acquired November 12, 2001

Source:

OrbView-2 > SeaWiFS

Topics:

Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Convergence/Divergence

Biosphere > Microbiota > Phytoplankton

Biosphere > Vegetation > Phytoplankton

Oceans > Ocean Circulation > Upwelling