Algal blooms in the Skagerrak and Kattegat

Last updated  
Published  

The type of algae found in the Skagerrak and Kattegat are often visible from satellite. Sometimes there are harmless blooms of coccolithophorids whose calcite platelets reflect sunlight to colour the sea turquoise.

This is the colour that enables the blooms to be observed by satellite, and the beautiful colour inspires thoughts of more southern seas.

The bloom is often dominated by the species Emiliania huxleyi. Massive blooms were observed during 2003 and 2004, and again in 2010 along the Norwegian coast and in the Skagerrak.

Coccolithophorid bloom
Satellite picture of Coccolithophorid bloom at the end of May 2010. Enlarge Image
Satellite picture of coccolithophorid bloom
Satellite picture of Coccolithophorid bloom at the end of May 2004. This massive bloom coloured the water turquoise along the coast of Sweden. Enlarge Image

Harmless algal blooms

Emiliania huxleyi is a harmless type of plankton that only blooms in the Skagerrak and Kattegat. Emiliania huxleyi usually starts blooming at the end of May or beginning of June and continues for a few weeks.

Send Email

You will be sending an email to Customer Service.