Algal Bloom Images

Below are images derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument onboard NOAA polar orbiting satellites. Channel 2 (near-IR) is displayed in red, while channel 1 (visible) is displayed in green and blue. The algal "scum" floating on the surface of Lake Pontchartrain appears as pink or red due to its high reflectance in the near-infrared.

The thin red edge along the shore in most images is vegetation at the coast that is not masked out. However, on June 14, the bulk of the bloom had moved to the south shore near New Orleans.

June 4, 1997 June 12, 1997 June 13, 1997 June 14, 1997

June 22, 1997 July 2, 1997 July 10, 1997 July 11, 1997

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