Plankton blooms in the ocean
Plankton blooms in the ocean
February 15, 2002
Genome News Network
Plankton blooms are a common phenomenon in the ocean. They are caused by phytoplankton, microscopic plants that float in the upper, sunlit layers of the ocean. When large numbers of phytoplankton are concentrated in one area, the color of the water surface changes.
A special group of plankton are coccolithophores. These tiny organisms generate very thin plates of calcium carbonate known as coccoliths. Coccoliths reflect light in a unique way turning the color of the water into a bright, milky aquamarine during intense blooms, which can be seen from space.
Not a lot of text but aerial views of plankton blooms around the Arctic.
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