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A huge bloom of phytoplankton in the North Sea swirls in photos taken by satellites orbiting Earth.

One image, taken on June 12, shows a springtime bloom east of the Shetland Islands in natural color as seen by the Landsat 8 satellite.
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A second, wider photo taken by NASA's Aqua satellite shows the larger context for the plankton bloom a day later. 

"Spring blooms are common here, and also in areas of the North Atlantic west of this image," NASA's Earth Observatory said in a statement.

The wider context for the North Sea phytoplankton bloom.Credit: Aqua/MODIS/nasa

Phytoplankton are plant-like microscopic organisms that grow through photosynthesis, and they are prolific in Earth's oceans. They produce oxygen that is released into the air, while also serving as a key food source for marine life.

As sunlight hits the upper parts of the ocean where these microorganisms live, huge blooms can grow in seas and lakes around the world. 

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The microorganisms occupy the base of the food chain for some whales, jellyfish, shrimp and other sea-dwelling creatures, but some blooms can be toxic when certain nutrients are available, potentially harming any animals that feed on it, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This is far from the first time scientists have caught sight of phytoplankton blooms from space.

A North Atlantic bloom of phytoplankton in 2012.Credit: nasa/modis/aqua

In 2012, for example, the Aqua satellite watched as a phytoplankton bloom grew and then dissipated over the course of a few weeks. 

More recently, British astronaut Tim Peake captured a phytoplankton bloom off the coast of Patagonia in April, tweeting a photo of the beautiful swirls. 

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