Oil in the Delta
Oil in the Delta
Image courtesy NASA
A false-color picture released May 26 shows the tip of the Mississippi River Delta branching like tree roots into the Gulf of Mexico, as silvery sheens of oil from the recent Deepwater Horizon spill touch the coasts.
Taken by a thermal imager aboard a NASA satellite, the picture shows vegetation in deep red and water in light blue. The smooth surfaces of oil slicks act like mirrors, reflecting sunlight to create the bright swirls. The cause of the dark patch at left is unknown, according to NASA, although the darkness could be due to changes in water motion, changes in salinity, or content such as chemical dispersants or organic matter.
Published June 1, 2010
