A bright halo of blooming phytoplankton was snapped surrounding the Chatham Islands in January 2026. (Image credit: NASA/NOAA) Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.
Become a Member in Seconds
Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter QUICK FACTSWhere is it? Chatham Islands, New Zealand [-44.00258384, -176.50074474]
What's in the photo? A glowing ring of phytoplankton around an archipelago
Which satellite took the photo? NOAA-20
When was it taken? Jan. 10, 2026
This dazzling satellite photo shows a glowing ring of plankton surrounding a remote group of New Zealand islands. The illuminated landmasses are hotspots for deadly whale stranding events, which are tied to the same underwater structure that birthed this spectacular bloom.
The gleaming ring encircles the Chatham Islands — a group of 10 islands in the Pacific Ocean around 520 miles (840 kilometers) west of Christchurch, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. The largest of those islands, Chatham Island and Pitt Island, are approximately 36 miles (58 km) and 9 miles (15 km) across, respectively. (The other landmasses are much smaller and are not clearly visible in the image.)
The Chatham Islands are surrounded by the Chatham Rise — a shallow underwater plateau that extends up to 900 miles (1,450 km) from the South Island's east coast. This hidden structure acts like a giant ramp that funnels cold, nutrient-rich waters to the ocean's surface. In the summer, warmer seasonal currents mix with this nutrient-rich water, providing the perfect conditions for algae to bloom.
The circular bloom in the photo was one of the largest in recent decades. It consists mostly of coccolithophores, a group of photosynthetic plankton, or "phytoplankton," that convert sunlight into energy and surround themselves with intricate calcium carbonate armor.
The satellite image was captured with a special near-infrared filter, which likely enhanced the algae's vivid hues. However, the blooming microorganisms would have been clearly visible to the naked eye from space, according to NASA's Earth Observatory.
Phytoplankton are the base of the pelagic (open-water) food web, similar to plants' role in terrestrial environments. As a result, the Chatham Islands are marine biodiversity hotspots that are home to various animals, including penguins, albatrosses, seals and sea lions, as well as commercially important populations of cod and lobsters.
At least 25 species of whales and dolphins, or cetaceans, are also drawn to the islands to feed, including orcas (Orcinus orca), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and pilot whales (Globicephala), according to New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC). However, this is not always a good thing for the visitors.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter nowContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsLarge groups of cetaceans often get disoriented in the shallow waters and can end up accidentally swimming too close to shore and getting trapped as the tide goes out, which is often fatal without human intervention.
Chatham Island has experienced multiple strandings over the past few years, including an event in October 2022 when nearly 500 pilot whales were euthanized on Chatham Island after washing up over the space of around four days, according to a DOC report. In 1918, more than 1,000 pilot whales are also believed to have died there after washing ashore, which remains the most deadly whale stranding event in recorded history. (Pilot whales are particularly prone to stranding because they are highly social, so an entire pod can be dragged into danger by a single injured or disoriented individual.)
Cetaceans are not the only creatures that have met an untimely end on the Chatham Islands. The archipelago was previously home to at least eight endemic bird species that have since gone extinct, including the Chatham penguin (Eudyptes warhami). Most of these species disappeared between 150 and 200 years ago due to the island's first human settlers, who arrived there from Polynesia in the 15th century.
'Arctic blast' plume in Florida
A 2026 satellite photo captured a stunning scene of sediment swirling across the West Florida Shelf after an extreme cold snap that covered large parts of the eastern U.S. in snow.
Shining sandbanks in Bahamas
A 2016 astronaut photo of the Bahamas shows a series of luminous, rippling sandbanks partly carved out by a coral reef. The image also reveals subtle differences in the ocean's surface caused by a steep, hidden ocean drop-off.
Whale-shaped island in Belize
A 2020 astronaut photo shows the unusual cetacean-like shape of Belize's Lighthouse Reef. It's home to the famous Great Blue Hole, which doubles as the island's "blowhole" when viewed from space.
TOPICS
Harry BakerSenior Staff WriterHarry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to become a journalist. He covers a wide range of topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior and paleontology. His recent work on the solar maximum won "best space submission" at the 2024 Aerospace Media Awards and was shortlisted in the "top scoop" category at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence in 2023. He also writes Live Science's weekly Earth from space series.
View MoreYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout LATEST ARTICLES
1A giant 'shadow' has been creeping across Mars for 50 years — and scientists aren't sure why- 2Bruce the parrot is missing his upper beak — but that hasn't stopped him from becoming an undefeated jousting champion
- 3Scientists identify main cause of extreme nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
- 4Altar to Sol: A rare 1,900-year-old monument dedicated to the Roman god of light and used in a secret underground ritual
- 5Loneliness may contribute to memory issues, but not dementia — they are 'not the same thing'
