Hurricane Helen made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on continued to cause damage as it moved north across several states. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous tornadoes, wreaking havoc across the country. The aftermath of the storm also had a significant impact on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A series of satellite images taken by NOAA-21 VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) showed that Helen’s strong winds and waves stirred up large amounts of sediment from the ocean floor. ocean These fine particles, washed up from shallow coastal areas, turn seawater blue when the sun reflects off the disturbed sediments. Hurricanes and floods make the situation worse, eroding land surfaces and pushing particles and drifting into the Persian Gulf. Before the storm, the waters near the coast already appeared a deep blue and dark green, caused by suspended sediments and reflections from sea beds, rocks and sand beds. NOAA predicted storm surge of more than 20 feet over land along parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast, causing flooding.
The strong tides carry vegetation and organic matter from the rivers to the sea. Dark waters near estuaries are influenced by dissolved organic matter, particularly from local blackwater streams, which are rich in decaying vegetation. During heavy rains, these stained waters flush into the ocean, adding to the ocean’s altered appearance. In the days following Helene’s passage, satellite imagery from NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) satellite on September 28 showed an even larger swath of sediment-laden waters. Although clouds covered much of the sky that day, parts of the ocean surface were still visible, revealing the far-reaching effects of the storm. The impact was not fleeting; as of October 3, a full week after the hurricane, swirls of sediment were still prevalent in the Gulf, indicating how long-lasting the oceanic effects of a storm can be. Hurricane Helene’s disruption of marine environments serves as a stark reminder of how powerful storms can alter not only landscapes but also oceanic systems, leaving behind visible changes long after the storm has passed.