Benguela Current

[30-Jun-25] The Benguela current is home to the Benguela upwelling system, characterized by a resurgence of nutrient-rich, cold water off the southwestern coast of Africa. This environment supports plankton blooms, as they thrive on the abundant nutrients. Multiple types of plankton flourish in this ecosystem, supporting a wide range of fisheries. The MOANA algorithm, with data already available on the Ocean Color Level 3 and 4 Browser, utilizes PACE-OCI data to identify three types of very small plankton: picoeukaryotes, Synechococcus, and Prochlorococcus, enabling the creation of unique maps pinpointing the locations of these plankton from space. This image was taken by the OCI sensor aboard PACE on May 16, 2025.