![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iss072e695136orig.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>Sunlight beams off a partly cloudy Atlantic Ocean just after sunrise as the International Space Station orbited 263 miles above on March 5, 2025. This is an example of sunglint,<\/a>\u00a0an optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight reflects off the surface of water at the same angle that a satellite sensor views it. The result is a mirror-like\u00a0specular reflection\u00a0of sunlight off the water and back at the satellite sensor or astronaut.<\/p>\n While sunglint often produces visually stunning images, the phenomenon can create problems for remote sensing scientists because it obscures features that are usually visible. This is particularly true for oceanographers who use satellites to study\u00a0phytoplankton\u00a0and\u00a0ocean color.<\/a>\u00a0As a result, researchers have developed\u00a0several methods<\/a>\u00a0to screen sunglint-contaminated imagery out of data archives.<\/p>\n Despite the challenges posed by sunglint, the phenomenon does offer some unique scientific opportunities. It makes it easier, for instance, to detect\u00a0oil on the water surface,\u00a0whether it is from\u00a0natural oil seeps\u00a0or\u00a0human-caused oil spills.\u00a0This is because a layer of oil smooths water surfaces.<\/p>\n Text credit: Adam Voiland<\/em><\/p>\n Image credit: NASA<\/em><\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> Sunlight beams off a partly cloudy Atlantic Ocean just after sunrise as the International Space Station orbited 263 miles above on March 5, 2025. This is an example of sunglint,\u00a0an optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight reflects off the surface of water at the same angle that a satellite sensor views it. The result is [\u2026] Continue reading
\nMonika Luabeya <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"