NASA Satellite Imagery Keeping Eye on the Gulf Oil Spill
Posted by Celia Walter | 4 May, 2010
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (appearing as a dull gray color) is southeast of the Mississippi Delta in this May 1, 2010, image from NASA's MODIS instrument. Credit: NASA/Goddard/MODIS Rapid Response Team
› Earth Observatory
› Automated MODIS feed
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the lead
agency on oil spills and uses airplane fly-over's to assess oil spill
extent. NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites are also helping NOAA with
satellite images of the area.
On Sunday, May 2, NOAA restricted fishing in federal waters of the Gulf
of Mexico from the mouth of the Mississippi to Pensacola Bay for at
least ten days. More details about the closure can be found at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
In addition to the federal closure, Louisiana closed vulnerable
fisheries in state waters -- within three miles of the coast. NOAA noted
that anyone wanting to report oil on land, or for general Community and
Volunteer Information, please call 1-866-448-5816. To report oiled or
injured wildlife, please call 1-800-557-1401.
Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Md.