Scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) have released images taken by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 spacecraft, showing swirls of vibrant emerald green algae in the Gulf of Finland. This was reported by SciTechDaily.
The photo, taken on July 13, 2023, shows emerald green streaks and swirls of algae blooms in the Gulf of Finland, part of the Baltic Sea. Helsinki, Finland’s capital and most populous city, is a light brown speck on the coast in the upper left corner of the image.
Every summer, algal blooms occur in the Baltic Sea, a term used to describe the dramatic increase in phytoplankton. These organisms form the basis of the marine food chain: They photosynthesize, meaning they produce food using solar energy, and also remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
High water temperatures, slow circulation, and excessive release of nutrients into the ocean often cause rapid growth of algae, resulting in massive blooms; This could pose a threat to the natural ecosystem as well as aquaculture and tourism.
Copernicus Sentinel-2 can be used to detect algal blooms and measure water quality indicators such as the surface concentration of chlorophyll, the green pigment that allows plants and phytoplankton to photosynthesize. Satellite data can be used to monitor the growth and spread of flowers; so that timely measures can be taken to reduce the impact on tourism and fishing.
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Source: Gazeta
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