South Sea Summer Bloom : Big Pics
-
Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory
A giant bloom of phytoplankton on Dec. 23 painted the South Pacific with coiling colors between New Zealand (to the left) and the Chatham Islands (right). The colors are created by the chlorophyll and other pigments phytoplankton use for photosynthesis. The milky blue colors are probably from phytoplankton called coccolithophores, which have a white chalky plating.
The bloom is being triggered by the underwater Chatham Rise, which stretches from the South Island of New Zealand, past the Chatham Islands. The rise divides two deep water areas: subtropical waters to the north and Antarctic waters to the south. Deep waters are forced over the rise by tides and currents, creating upwelling of nutrient-rich waters that feed the phytoplankton.
Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory
-
our sites
-
video
-
shop
-
stay connected
-
corporate
comments ( )