Murcia, May 19 (EFE).- The Spanish Institute of Oceanography has detected a large mass of white water in the Mar Menor, with a high concentration of chlorophyll and plankton, which “could have a diffuse origin, not associated with inputs punctual, such as the one on the Rambla del Albujón”, as reported this Friday in a press release.
“In the area occupied by the body of water, the presence of phytoplankton blooms is common, but not with the current colouring, turbidity and extent”, explained the coordinator of the scientific team responsible for the report, Juan Manuel Ruiz.
In the satellite images you can see how the white spot occupies an area between Los Alcázares, Los Urrutias and Perdiguera Island, of about 15 square kilometers.
The chlorophyll concentration values recorded in this area are up to four times higher than in other parts of the lagoon, with a high primary production that has remained stable over time.
Likewise, there is a high concentration of organic matter, of planktonic origin, associated with a high abundance of picoplankton (cells between 0.2 and 2 micrometers in diameter) and cryptophyceans.