Subj : MODIS Pic of the Day 03 June 2022
To   : All
From : Dan Richter
Date : Fri Jun 03 2022 12:00:40

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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