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North Sea heat wave fueled underwater plankton bloom largely missed by satellites

North Sea heat wave fueled underwater plankton bloom largely missed by satellites
Phys.org Thursday 15 October 2026, 20:00 UTC 1 min read
Key Points

When a marine heat wave strikes, scientists often turn to satellites to see how the ocean is responding. From space, changes in ocean color can reveal shifts in phytoplankton, microscopic organisms that form the foundation of marine food webs and play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. But satellites have a fundamental limitation: they can only see the ocean's surface.

When a marine heat wave strikes, scientists often turn to satellites to see how the ocean is responding. From space, changes in ocean color can reveal shifts in phytoplankton, microscopic organisms that form the foundation of marine food webs and play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. But satellites have a fundamental limitation: they can only see the ocean's surface.
North Sea (LOCATION)
Originally published by Phys.org Read original →

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