June 3, 2022 - Phytoplankton Bloom off of England and Wales

Bloom
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A swirl of milky blue in Bristol Channel marked a bloom of
phytoplankton in late May 2022. The Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this
true-color image on May 28.

The Bristol Channel is the largest natural inlet in the United Kingdom,
stretching between the Atlantic Ocean and the River Severn and
separating South Wales (north) from the counties of Somerset and Devon,
England (south). Seven rivers carry fresh water, along with sediment
and nutrients, into the River Severn Estuary at the eastern-most end of
the channel. The nutrients spilled into the Bristol Channel from these
rivers can help spur the growth of phytoplankton. The tan color of the
sediment-filled waters near the River Severn Estuary can be easily seen
in the image.

Phytoplankton are microscopic plant-like organisms that live in these
waters year-round. When conditions are right—favorable water
temperatures, enough nutrients, and adequate sunlight—these organisms
can reproduce explosively, creating huge blooms that can be easily seen
from space. They are an important part of the marine food web, forming
the base that helps feed the diverse and rich fishery found in the
Bristol Channel. Some fishes of commercial or recreational importance
found in these waters include pollock, whiting, bass and eels. Several
species of porpoise, dolphin and shark live in the Channel, along with
grey seals, crab, and cockles.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/28/2022
Resolutions: 1km (131 KB), 500m (314.7 KB), 250m (685.8 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2022-06-03

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