Tardy for the party.
Satellites captured the waters in Hood Canal, Washington turning turquoise last month. This more typically tropical hue means that the coccolithophores, a type of phytoplankton, have arrived—fashionably late this time.
Coccolithophores have chalky calcium carbonate plates (coccoliths) that reflect light. When they’re present in great numbers, they make even the darkest green or navy blue waters turn a bright blue.
Like most phytoplankton, coccolithophores float near the ocean surface and turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into sugars and oxygen. Coccolithophores also play an important, but not fully understood, role in the global carbon cycle, taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and eventually sinking it to the bottom of the ocean.
This year’s color-changing bloom appeared late, as it took a while to get the right blend of water temperatures. Water in Hood Canal does not always mix well; the upper layers can have different temperatures and salt levels than the deeper layers.
Image description: An aerial view of Hood Canal and surrounding land. The canal waters are mostly turquoise, with the bright and navy blue hues swirling together along the banks. The land is mostly emerald green and varied in terrain. A few clusters of white clouds mark the top of the photo.
Credit: USGS/NASA
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