South African Reservoir

NASA

Algae Swirls Across a South African Reservoir

On clear days in Hartbeespoort, South Africa, satellite images often reveal a reservoir with shades of deep blue interrupted by drifting patches of vivid green. These shifting features indicate algae blooms, which can affect water quality, ecosystems, and nearby human communities. In this animation, from June 2022 to July 2023, an algal bloom grows, moves around the reservoir, and then…