This swirling bloom was spotted 600km east of the Falkland Islands. Image: ESA
A phytoplankton bloom swirl creates a figure-of-eight pattern in the South Atlantic Ocean.
An algal bloom is caused by the rapid accumulation of algae in an aquatic system. They can be monitored by Envisat and other satellites, as some species such as Alexandrium and Karenia (also known as red tides due to their colour), can be toxic.
The different species of phytoplankton will exhibit different colours, such as the blues and greens in this image. The colour may also vary according to the quantity present. The colours act as a key to its nature, and allow scientists to determine the species and its toxicity.
