ESA - Observing the Earth - Understanding Our Planet - Envisat detects 'grass of the sea' blooming early off Norway

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Envisat detects 'grass of the sea' blooming early off Norway

4 March 2005

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This is a standard Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) algal product, from an image acquired over the North Sea between southern Norwegian coast (towards the top of the image) and the east coast of the UK (towards the base of the image) on 27 February 2005. The scale represents chlorophyll concentration in mg/m-3.

Credits: Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center/ESA

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Emiliania huxleyi is one of about 5000 species of phytoplankton, microscopic plant organisms that live in the sunlit layers of the ocean. The total phytoplankton biomass outweighs that of all the marine animals - zooplankton, fish, whales - put together, and phytoplankton productivity is one of the primary forces in regulating our planetary climate.

Credits: Courtesy of Dr Jeremy R. Young, copyright the Natural History Museum of London

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Harmful algae blooms can endanger fisheries and aquaculture. They can either poison fish and marine mammals or remove oxygen from wide stretches of water, causing marine life to suffocate. Earth Observation ocean colour instruments provide early warning of algae bloom occurrences.

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ESA's ten-instrument Envisat environmental satellite has been observing the Earth for more than three years. Picture by EADS Astrium.

Credits: EADS Astrium