NASA spots Florida’s ocean waters changing color
Popular Science
by Andrew PaulFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
NASA has recently captured striking imagery of Florida’s Gulf of Mexico waters turning a vibrant blue-green hue due to extreme winter weather. The transformation occurred as two massive winter storms, named Fern and Gianna, brought frigid temperatures and powerful winds to the region. These conditions stirred up calcium carbonate mud, composed of marine organism remains, which turned the water pale blue. Satellite imagery from NASA’s MODIS and Landsat 9 revealed the phenomenon, including the formation of "hammerhead" eddies near the West Florida Shelf. These swirling patterns, created by dense, cold water pulling sediment into slower-moving Gulf waters, mirror fluid dynamics observed in Martian dust storms.
The unusual color change highlights how extreme weather can disrupt ocean ecosystems. Typically, such sediment suspension occurs during tropical hurricanes, but winter storms can also trigger these events. The eddies formed off Florida’s coast demonstrate the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems and how cold fronts can reshape underwater environments. This rare occurrence provides valuable insights for climate scientists studying carbon sequestration processes in oceans.
Understanding these events is crucial for
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Originally published on Popular Science on 2/23/2026