Plankton bloom off the Irish coast

This image shows the islands of Ireland and Great Britain in the Atlantic Ocean, separated by the Irish Sea. Prevailing winds from the south-west bring the influence of the warm Gulf Stream to this area and create a temperate maritime climate, contrary to other areas at the same latitude such as Newfoundland or Belarus. In the water around Ireland plankton blooms occur frequently as shown in this picture.

Plankton is the bottom layer of the marine food chain and can sustain a rich marine habitat. Phytoplankton plays an important role in global climate regulation, it absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. The oceans have become the principal repository for carbon dioxide. The light shades in the water around Great Britain are sediment deposits. Sediments are small particles that are usually transported via water or wind and settles in river channels, on beach sands and in shallow waters.