The convergence of warm and cold currents off the coast of Patagonia helps fuel large blooms of phytoplankton. This pair of images shows temperature and chlorophyll in November 2009.
Published Jan 12, 2010
A flash of blue and green lit the waters off Namibia in early November 2007 as a phytoplankton bloom grew and faded in the Atlantic Ocean. The bloom stretches from north to south along hundreds of kilometers, though it is brightest in the center of this image. Such blooms are common in the coastal waters off southwest Africa where cold, nutrient-rich currents sweep north from Antarctica and interact with the coastal shelf. At the same time, the easterly trade winds push surface water away from the shore, allowing water from the ocean’s floor to rise to the surface, bringing with it iron and other material. The suffusion of nutrients from both the currents and upwelling water creates an environment where tiny surface-dwelling ocean plants (phytoplankton) thrive.
Published Nov 22, 2007
Ocean currents and nutrient-rich waters conspire to create a boon for some ocean species and a dead zone for others.
Published Apr 30, 2014
Phytoplankton and blue-green algae blooms off of Scandinavia seem to be particularly intense this summer.
Published Jul 23, 2018
Phytoplankton and sediment produced a vivid display in this relatively shallow sea between Great Britain and northern Europe.
Published Apr 9, 2020
The number and size of ocean dead zones is closely connected to human population density.
Published Jul 17, 2010
After changing regional weather patterns and taking a bite out of sea life, an unusually persistent patch of warm water in the northeastern Pacific has chilled out.
Published Feb 16, 2016
The dynamic colors of ocean phytoplankton blooms reflect a host of dynamic relationships occurring below the water line.
Published Jan 9, 2015
Acquired November 21, 2010, this natural-color image shows brightly colored water off the coast of northern Namibia.
Published Nov 22, 2010
