The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission showed an algae bloom in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan. SciTechDaily reports.
Algal bloom refers to the proliferation of phytoplankton – microscopic marine plants that drift on or near the sea surface. Overgrowth of algae stains the ocean waters, and this can be seen from space.
Although algal blooms are a natural and important part of life at sea, it is believed that human activities increase the number of annual blooms. Excessive algal blooms can be caused by environmental factors such as light, higher water temperatures, and excess nutrients.
The photo taken by the ESA satellite shows a high concentration of algae about 130 km from the island of Hokkaido. The size of this particular algae bloom was over 500 km long and 200 km wide. The picture shows a small part of the bloom – about 100 km from north to south and about 110 km from east to west.
Phytoplankton plays an important role in the food chain and also influences the global carbon cycle by absorbing carbon dioxide on a scale equivalent to that of terrestrial plants. Even small fluctuations in its productivity can affect the concentration of carbon dioxide, as well as biodiversity and fisheries, so its productivity must be controlled, scientists warn.
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