Satellite View Captures Ring of Phytoplankton Around Chatham Islands
TL;DR
NASA's Earth Observatory captured a vibrant ring of phytoplankton encircling the remote Chatham Islands in January 2026, observed by the VIIRS instrument on NOAA-20. The bloom forms where cold, nutrient-rich Antarctic waters meet warmer subtropical waters around the Chatham Rise, supporting local fisheries and marine life, though the region is also known for whale and dolphin strandings.
Blooming Seas Around the Chatham Islands NASA Science (.gov)
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