As of May 17, 2008 the North Atlantic Bloom experiment is fully operational and gathering fascinating data.

Two floats, 4 gliders and the R.V. Knorr are operating together to map the three-dimensional structures of ocean physics, biology and chemistry. More detailed measurements are being made from the Knorr.

Such glory is fleeting. As of May 18, there is only one float operating, but this should be sufficient to continue.

The data indicates that the bloom is close to a maximum. Overall, the levels of chlorophyll, backscattering, attenuation, and oxygen have remained relatively steady for the last week, but with significant variations in space. Much of this variation appears to be associated with an anticyclonic eddy. We have done a good job of mapping the structure of the eddy and the associated modulation of the bloom. This should be a particularly interesting aspect of the data to analyze.

There are some indications from the plankton data taken on the ship that the bloom is starting to fade: diatoms are sinking to depth and the species composition is starting to change. The Knorr may catch the beginning of the end of the bloom before heading back to Iceland in a few days.