Thermal imaging system display

The first image produced from a thermal imaging system shows an image of a submarine (cold and fresh) groundwater discharge plume emanation from the shoreline and propagating over the reef flat. USGS scientists installed the system in the National Park of American Samoa off the south shore of Ofu in the Manu‛a Islands Group of American Samoa. The groundwater could potentially be responsible for carrying the nutrients that caused an algal outbreak that is overwhelming and killing the thermally-tolerant, federally-protected corals in the Park. USGS will test water samples taken from the area to measure nutrient levels.