Topic
Plankton
The Plankton topic displays data products and composites related to proxies for phytoplankton presence, zooplankton, and ichthyoplankton abundance and estimated biomass (displacement volume). Under the Plankton topic, the Portal also displays locations where plankton monitoring has occurred and locations where plankton sampling is planned.
Subtopics: Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Icthyoplankton, Plankton Monitoring
Latest Updates
01 May 2026: Hundreds of New and Updated Plankton Datasets
21 May 2025: Updates to Zooplankton Products from NOAA Fisheries EcoMon Surveys
Data Providers and Sources
- Marine-life Data & Analysis Team (MDAT)
- Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)
- Ocean-Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI)
- NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
- National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Data Considerations
The plankton data products available on the Portal have been developed by the Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT) in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries and other regional partners and compiled by the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab at Duke University, drawing from satellite remote sensing and in situ survey collections. These datasets are hosted outside the Portal, meaning that as new data become available, the Portal will be updated to reflect the most current information. Plankton data sources include:
- Median Chlorophyll-a MODIS (2010–2019) – derived from remote sensing data from the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) sensor onboard the Aqua satellite, provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- Median Chlorophyll-a VIIRS (2020–2024) – derived from remote sensing data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor onboard the NOAA-20 and Suomi-NPP satellites, provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Median Chlorophyll-a Composite (2020–2024) – derived from the Ocean-Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI) composite dataset, which synthesizes remote sensing data from multiple sensors.
- Zooplankton Abundance (2003–2009 & 2010–2021) – derived from data collected by the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center Ecosystem Monitoring (EcoMon) survey and abundance rasters were created using methods developed by The Nature Conservancy in 2016.
- Ichthyoplankton Abundance (2003–2009 & 2010–2021) – derived from data collected by the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center Ecosystem Monitoring (EcoMon) survey.
- EcoMon Sampling Points – companion layers showing sampling locations for zooplankton and ichthyoplankton by time period and season, providing context for variability in sampling effort (EcoMon Data Access)
Status
Plankton data were reviewed in early 2026. Check the metadata associated with each layer for detailed status and source of information.
Examples of Data
- Median Chlorophyll-a Composite (2020-2024)
- EcoMon Zooplankton Sample Points
- Atlantic Cod (Ichthyoplankton)
- Calanus finmarchicus