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Revealing
the Unseen

Plankton bloom in the Baltic sea

This true colour image was taken on 7 August 2015 and has a spatial resolution of 10 m on the ground. In detail, it shows ships cutting through an algal bloom in the central Baltic Sea.

© Sentinel-2, Copernicus, ESA

ECOSYSTEMS

Phytoplankton are an integral part of oceanic cycles and their functioning, and contribute to the production of oxygen on the planet. Satellite data spanning decades expose their crucial role as a key life-sustaining, planetary influence on the climate.

Map of chlorophyll concentration observed by the Copernicus satellite, 01 October 2023.

© Mercator

Stefano Ciavatta

Senior scientist

Mercator Ocean International
Toulouse, France

Phytoplankton are extremely important for our oceans. These tiny organisms are capable of photosynthesis and absorb CO2 on the ocean's surface to release oxygen. When they die, they sink and release CO2 into the deep ocean. This process is known as the biological carbon pump. From Space, we can see how much phytoplankton there is in the ocean and how it is changing, giving us indicators on the ocean’s health and productivity.
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