NASA Photo ID: STS032-520-014      File Name: 10063465.jpg
  Film Type: 70mm                    Date Taken: 01/20/90
  Title: STS-32 Earth observation of the western Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef
  Description:
  STS-32 Earth observation taken onboard Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, 
  is of the western Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef.  The scene shows 
  phytoplankton or algal bloom in the northwest Coral Sea.  The western Coral 
  Sea and the Great Barrier Reef waters offshore Queensland, Australia are
  the  sites of some of the larger concentrations or "blooms" of
  phytoplankton and  algae in the open ocean.  In the instance illustrated
  here, the leading edge  of a probable concentration of algae or
  phytoplankton is seen as a light  irregular line and sheen between the
  offshore Great Barrier Reef and the  Queensland coast.  Previous
  phytoplankton concentrations in this area have  been reported by ships at
  sea as having formed floating mats as thick as two  meters.           
  
  Subject terms:
  ALGAE                                   
  AUSTRALIA                               
  EARTH OBSERVATIONS (FROM SPACE)         
  PHYTOPLANKTON                           
  REEFS                                   
  SEAS                                    
  STS-32                                  
  

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