December 10, 2021 - Phytoplankton Bloom off of South America
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Every spring and summer, warming waters and lengthening daylight help
spur blooms of phytoplankton in the South Atlantic Ocean between South
America and the Falkland Islands. Phytoplankton are microscopic
plant-like organisms that use chlorophyll to create energy from
sunlight. They float in these waters year-round in relatively small
numbers, but when conditions are just right—enough sunlight, correct
water temperature, and plentiful nutrients—phytoplankton can reproduce
explosively, creating massive floating blooms that can be easily seen
from space.
The waters between South America and the Falkland Islands (also known
as the Malvinas Islands) are particularly favorable for phytoplankton,
thanks to the nutrient-rich waters of the Malvinas Current. This
current is an offshoot of the Circumpolar Current, a frigid band of
water that circles Antarctica. As the Malvinas Current flows northward
along the coast of South America, it carries nutrients from the colder
climates. The Falkland Islands, sitting in the heart of the strong
current, disturb the flow and create turbidity to the north of the
islands. At the same time, the Brazil Current flows from the north,
carrying warm subtropical waters south. The two currents meet near Rio
de la Plata, which is north of this image. The upwelling and
temperature changes created by the meeting of the two currents and the
turbulence north of the Falkland brings nutrients up from the sea floor
to create ideal conditions for phytoplankton growth.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board
NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of an expansive
phytoplankton bloom east of Argentina on December 3, 2021. The colorful
blooms stretch from just offshore of the mainland eastward beyond the
Falklands—a distance more than 400 miles (644 km).
Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 12/3/2021
Resolutions: 1km (1.4 MB), 500m (3.9 MB), 250m (10.2 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=2021-12-10
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