Phytoplankton Bloom in the Barents Sea

Phytoplankton, tiny photosynthetic organisms, are the base of the marine food chain. Their blooms play a vital role in marine ecosystems and in the regulation of global climate, as they are responsible for a significant proportion of the Earth's oxygen production and contribute to the sequestration of atmospheric carbon. 

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 24 August, shows an ongoing bloom in the Arctic Ocean’s Barents Sea. In this region, phytoplankton blooms are triggered by several environmental factors, including increased sunlight and melting sea ice, which together create ideal conditions for these blooms (Wassmann et al., 2015), which are also influenced by climate change.

Global warming has led to a reduction in sea ice cover in the Barents Sea, extending the bloom season and increasing the amount of phytoplankton produced.  The Copernicus Marine Service provides a wealth of data essential for monitoring this fragile ecosystem. More details can be found here.