NASA Images show Gulf Oil Slick Approaching Loop Current

This pair of sea surface temperature images shows how the warm waters of the Loop Current connect the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean (top image, May 1–8, 2010) and the dynamic northern margin of the Loop Current a week and a half later, on May 18 (bottom image). Based on observations of infrared energy collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite, the images show cooler temperatures in blue and purple and warmer temperatures in pink and yellow. Cloudy areas are light gray.

Thermal sea surface image of Gulf of Mexico showing loop current (acquired May 1 - 8 2010)

Thermal sea surface image showing loop current (May 18, 2010) with overlay of oil slick (May 17)

Source: NASA Earth Observatory