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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
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
