The oceanic patch, identified from satellite data based on its high chlorophyll concentration, was embedded within a well-stratified column of water that didn’t mix much with its surroundings. Over a 25-day life cycle, the patch began with a fast growth phase, increasing its chlorophyll concentration four-fold in just 17 days. Approximately eight days after reaching its peak, contrasting chlorophyll faded into the background, indicating the bloom’s demise.