A striking ring of blue‑green swirls appeared around the Chatham Islands earlier this month, with a large phytoplankton bloom so extensive it was captured by satellites orbiting hundreds of kilometres above Earth.
Located around 800km off the South Island's east coast the remote archipelago was encircled by a bloom of phytoplankton in early January, with surface currents and eddies stirring the floating organism into intricate wisps, swirls and spirals.
The islands perch on the Chatham Rise — an underwater plateau that extends eastward from the South Island. The top of the rise is relatively shallow and separates areas of deeper water to the north and south.
Scientists say the Chatham Islands sit at the meeting point of cold Antarctic waters and warm subtropical currents, creating an ideal nutrient-rich spot for phytoplankton blooms to take off.
"The well-mixed water, coupled with long daylight hours, can boost phytoplankton populations," NASA said in a post to its website.
The region is one of the country's more plentiful marine environments, home to blue cod, pāua, and rock lobster, as well as crossroads for whales, dolphins and seals.
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