"Ethereal Algal Vortex Blooms in Baltic 'Dead Zone' Seen from Space"

A striking satellite image captured by Landsat 8 in July 2018 shows a massive algal bloom in the Gulf of Finland, forming a 15.5-mile-wide green spiral. While visually stunning, these blooms create toxic "dead zones" by depleting oxygen levels in the water, suffocating marine life. The frequency and size of such blooms have increased due to human activities and climate change, with the Baltic Sea experiencing its lowest oxygen levels in 1,500 years.