MSGID: 1:317/3 64821744
PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08
TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08
June 8, 2023 - Phytoplankton Bloom off Western Europe

   Phytoplankton
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   A large patch of bright blue marked the presence of a spring bloom of
   phytoplankton in Western Europe in early June 2023. The Moderate
   Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra
   satellite acquired a true-color image of the blooming Celtic Sea on
   June 6. The bloom was located in south of Ireland and west of Wales
   (northeast), England (south of Wales) and France (southeast).

   Each spring, lengthening sunlight provides the energy for the floating,
   microscopic, plant-like organisms to reproduce rapidly in this
   location. The first phytoplankton to appear are often a type called
   “coccolithophores”, which have a distinct milky-view color when a bloom
   is visible from space. What makes coccolithophores different from other
   species of phytoplankton is their calcite shells and their ability to
   live in more temperate waters with fewer nutrients than many other
   species.

   Aside from coloring ocean waters, phytoplankton play a large role in
   sustaining ocean ecosystems and in global climate. The tiny plants are
   the base of the marine food chain, and places where blooms are frequent
   tend to support a thriving marine population. Phytoplankton can
   influence global climate by regulating gases in the atmosphere. Like
   all plants, phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen as
   they grow. When the plants die, they sink to the ocean floor, carrying
   the absorbed carbon with them, creating a carbon sink that helps trap
   carbon dioxide (an important greenhouse gas) and remove it from the
   atmosphere.

   Image Facts
   Satellite:  Terra
   Date Acquired: 6/4/2023
   Resolutions:  1km (614.5 KB),  500m (1.7 MB),  250m (4 MB)
   Bands Used: 1,4,3
   Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2023-06-08
 
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