Latest news with #CopernicusProgram
Hamilton Spectator
16-07-2025
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Algae bloom turns coastal waters off Vancouver Island tropical blue
Vancouver Island, BC - Some West Coasters say it reminds them of herring spawn. Others say it mirrors the milky blue of glacial waters or the warm palette of a tropical lagoon. The phenomenon taking place off the coast of Vancouver Island is called a coccolithophore bloom, and according to researchers at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney, B.C., it's happening more frequently since the heatwaves and El Nino events that started in 2015. 'These blooms usually follow an intense heat or warming event,' said Moira Galbraith, a DFO zooplankton taxomist, in an email. The turquoise blue waters are so bright you can see them from space. DFO researchers have been following the bloom for several weeks via Sentinel Satellite pictures from the Copernicus Program, the Earth Observation component of the European Union's space program. 'From the pictures you can see the bloom developing along the coast, especially Nitinat Lake,' said Galbraith. Coccolithophores are a non-toxic microscopic protist, a type of phytoplankton with a calcareous shell made from a little sphere of calcium carbonate. 'This material is reflective, making the water appear blue/white as it reflects the sunlight through the water. Extensive blooms occur when the surface waters become quite warm and nutrient depleted,' said Galbraith. The DFO scientist explained that coccolithophores are mixotrophs; they ingest carbon dioxide via sunlight (photosynthesis) to produce oxygen as a by product and will eat other phytoplankton. 'This makes them able to take advantage of nutrient poor, warm water with poor water mixing. Most blooms start in an embayment or inlet with restricted circulation,' said Galbraith. Laura Griffith-Cochrane, a marine biologist and the executive director of the Ucluelet Aquarium, says her team hasn't seen any behavioural changes amongst the fish that reside in the catch-and-release facility. Visitors can see the bloom up close from within the tanks. 'It's so, so tiny. We can't filter it out. Whatever is happening in the harbour is happening in (the aquarium). But it's also a great food source for a lot of organisms, so it's not a bad thing. A lot of our filter feeders are really stoked,' she said. The water used in the Ucluelet Aquarium is drawn from right outside in the Ucluelet harbour. Each day, the aquarium filters 250 gallons per minute into their exhibits. 'We have noticed our dissolved oxygen levels have decreased, probably because in the process of making their little plaques they're using oxygen molecules as well,' said Griffith-Cochrane of the phytoplankton. 'A lot of the things that are eating them are feasting right now [and] are also using quite a bit of oxygen as well. We haven't seen the dissolved oxygen levels go to a point where we should be concerned.' 'We are connected to the ecosystem. What happens out there, happens in here. It highlights that responsibility that we have to take care of the whole space that we share with everybody. I think a lot of people forget about that when they are living in places were they can't see those connections as easily,' she continued. Unlike some toxic algae blooms that can be harmful to marine life and human health, Griffith-Cochrane says coccolithophore is 'one that we don't have to worry about for our health.' When the bloom dies off, the calcium carbonate sinks to the bottom of the ocean, removing some of the carbon from the surface waters into sediment, according to DFO. The White Cliffs of Dover along the coastline of England, for example, are chalk coloured as a result of the calcite made from the remains of coccolithophores. 'It just falls to the ocean floor. It fertilizes the ocean,' Griffith-Cochrane echoed. 'I think it's pretty special. I keep anticipating that it's going to go away and it's still here.' DFO says most fish can avoid the coccolithophore bloom as it is only in the very surface of the water, but the bloom may irritate gills if numbers are large enough and the fish are unable to move away. -30- Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Planet Signs Deal with European Space Agency (ESA), Joining the Copernicus Contributing Missions
SAN FRANCISCO, January 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Planet Labs Germany GmbH, a leading provider of daily data and insights about Earth, today announced that they have signed a multi-year contract with the European Space Agency (ESA). Through this contract, Planet joins the Copernicus Contributing Missions, officially contributing commercial satellite data alongside ESA's Sentinel satellite data to the Copernicus services. Through this contract, Planet's near-daily PlanetScope satellite imagery and high-resolution SkySat imagery will serve as complementary data to ESA's existing, robust data offerings, ensuring geospatial analysts can meet their broad range of data needs. This deal highlights how ESA has expanded its data portfolio with diverse, emerging commercial data provided by New Space companies. "We have a long history of working with ESA, and we're honored to continue to support the Copernicus Program as a Contributing Mission with our PlanetScope and SkySat constellations," said Massimiliano Vitale, Planet Senior Vice President of Tasking Products. "Europe has demonstrated global leadership in Earth observation innovation, and we're thrilled to see their continued investment in commercial space companies from the region." Prior to this contract, Planet has worked in collaboration with ESA for a decade, contributing to both Copernicus and the ESA Third Party Mission programme, supporting novel scientific research and the development of new commercial services through the ESA Earthnet Programme. Through this, researchers and innovative companies located in the territory of ESA and the European Commission Member States were able to leverage Planet's PlanetScope, SkySat, and RapidEye imagery for a range of disciplines, including land use monitoring and climate change research. Planet Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) is the parent company of the Planet group with global headquarters in San Francisco, USA. Planet Labs Germany GmbH is part of the Planet group and is based at Planet's European headquarters in Berlin. Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. Planet is driven by a mission to image the world every day, and make change visible, accessible and actionable. Founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists, Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to over 1,000 customers, comprising the world's leading agriculture, forestry, intelligence, education and finance companies and government agencies, enabling users to simply and effectively derive unique value from satellite imagery. Planet Labs PBC is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as PL. To learn more visit and follow us on X (Twitter). View source version on Contacts Planet PressLauren Neville Cottrellcomms@ Planet Investor RelationsCleo Palmer-Poronerir@
