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May 27, 2026 - Phytoplankton Bloom off of Western Europe
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A dazzling display of widespread color filled the Celtic Sea and North Atlantic Ocean in mid-May 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured the swirling palette on May 24.
A patch of bright milky-toned blue swirls south of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean while, to the east, more subdued tones of greens and blue nearly fill the Celtic Sea east of England and Wales. Phytoplankton blooms often appear in these northern seas as surface waters grow warmer and receive more sunlight in the spring.
Phytoplankton are tiny, plant-like organisms that often float near the ocean surface. With correct sea temperatures, sunlight, and nutrients, they can rapidly grow in massive numbers. In turn, they form the foundation of the aquatic food web, feeding everything from microscopic zooplankton to shellfish to finfish.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/24/2026
Resolutions:
1km (776.4 KB), 500m (1.6 MB), 250m (1.6 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A dazzling display of widespread color filled the Celtic Sea and North Atlantic Ocean in mid-May 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured the swirling palette on May 24.
A patch of bright milky-toned blue swirls south of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean while, to the east, more subdued tones of greens and blue nearly fill the Celtic Sea east of England and Wales. Phytoplankton blooms often appear in these northern seas as surface waters grow warmer and receive more sunlight in the spring.
Phytoplankton are tiny, plant-like organisms that often float near the ocean surface. With correct sea temperatures, sunlight, and nutrients, they can rapidly grow in massive numbers. In turn, they form the foundation of the aquatic food web, feeding everything from microscopic zooplankton to shellfish to finfish.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 5/24/2026
Resolutions:
1km (776.4 KB), 500m (1.6 MB), 250m (1.6 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
