The Amazon River Outfall 

 August 1979 



The false-color CZCS pigment image on 17 August (83-1) of the ocean 

 region off the Amazon shows changes in water color from yellow near the 

 coast to dark blue offshore, just priortotheonsetof the rainy season. This 

 distinct color distribution highlights the Amazon outfall area. In this 

 region, major color change is due to input of river water heavily laden with 

 yellow organic material, and not due to changes in concentration of 

 photosynthetic phytoplankton. The outfall of the Amazon is diverted 

 north by the Guiana Current, but eventually curves out from the coast to 

 the open ocean. 



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