MSGID: 1:317/3 6367f62d   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   November 6, 2022 - Bloom off South America   
      
      Bloom   
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      A massive spring bloom of phytoplankton colored the waters off of   
      Patagonia in early November 2022. The Moderate Resolution Imaging   
      Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a   
      true-color image of the region on November 3. The jewel-toned hues   
      swirl through the entire ocean visible in this image, with green swirls   
      dominant near-shore and milky blue tones predominate further out in the   
      ocean.   
      
      Phytoplankton are microscopic plant-like organisms that float near the   
      surface of the ocean in this area year-round. When conditions are   
      right—warming temperatures, correct sunlight, and abundant   
      nutrients—phytoplankton can reproduce explosively, creating massive and   
      colorful blooms that can be easily seen from space. Different species   
      of phytoplankton contain varying types of pigment and the blooms may   
      appear different from space. For example, milky-blue tones indicate an   
      abundance of coccolithophores, which surround themselves with   
      chalky-colored calcite plates.   
      
      Phytoplankton blooms frequently occur off the Patagonian coast for a   
      reason: it is the convergence zone between the warm, southbound Brazil   
      Current near the coast and the cold, northbound Malvinas/Falkland   
      Current farther out to sea. As the currents brush past each other,   
      turbulent swirls and eddies form, causing cold, nutrient-rich water to   
      well up toward the surface from deeper in the ocean. These rich waters   
      provide a buffet to eager, growing phytoplankton. These blooms most   
      often occur in the Southern Hemisphere springtime.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Aqua   
      Date Acquired: 11/3/2022   
      Resolutions:  1km (1.9 MB),  500m (5.2 MB),  250m (12.1 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=2022-11-06   
       
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