image: Carbonate sediments lofted by Tropical Cyclone Pam were spotted when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the South Pacific Ocean on March 16 at 23:05 UTC (7:05 p.m. EDT). The cloud of blue is a sign of Tropical Cyclone Pam's passage. Pam was a Category 5 hurricane that churned the warm ocean waters and brought sediment from the ocean floor to the surface. It is the sediment that scatters light, giving the water its brilliant color. view more
Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team