Sargassum along the coast of La Palma

Sargassum, a brown macroalgae, is predominantly found in the Sargasso Sea, located in the central region  of the Atlantic Ocean. This seaweed flourishes in warm waters and is well-adapted to the unique conditions of its native habitat. In the context of ongoing climate change, rising ocean temperatures could significantly contribute to the proliferation of sargassum. This increase in growth not only affects its distribution but also has broader ecological implications for marine biodiversity and coastal environments.

Recently, large amounts of sargassum have been observed along the coast of La Palma in the Canary Islands (Spain), an archipelago thousands of kilometres from the Sargasso Sea. The unusual phenomenon is documented in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image acquired on 17 April.

Copernicus Open Data supports the monitoring of the spread and impact of sargassum blooms around the world, enabling better management of the situation.

Source:

Copernicus. (2024, April 24). Sargassum along the coast of La Palma. Image of the Day.