Satellite-based graphic showing ocean currents off the Americas

© Karsten Schneider/Science Photo Library

Satellite-based graphic showing ocean currents off the Americas

It’s easy to think of satellites as technology for observing the realms beyond our planet. But many satellites turn their data-gathering instruments back toward home. That’s how this ocean-currents map was created. The purple and pink swirls represent warmer ocean currents, while the blue and green are cooler currents. Maps like these aid in weather forecasting, determining the temperature of our oceans, and long-term analysis of the oceans’ health.