Glowing ring of plankton surrounding New Zealand islands linked to deadly underwater plateau — Earth from space
QUICK FACTS
Where is he? Chatham Islands, New Zealand [-44.00258384, -176.50074474]
What’s in the photo? A bright ring of phytoplankton around an archipelago
Which satellite took the photo? NOAA-20
When was it taken? January 10, 2026
This dazzling satellite photo shows a bright ring of plankton surrounding an isolated group of New Zealand islands. The illuminated landmasses are hotspots for fatal whale strandings, which are linked to the same underwater structure that gave rise to this spectacular bloom.
The bright ring surrounds the Chatham Islands, a group of 10 islands in the Pacific Ocean about 840 kilometers west of Christchurch on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The largest of these islands, Chatham Island and Pitt Island, are approximately 36 miles (58 km) and 9 miles (15 km) respectively. (The other landmasses are much smaller and are not clearly visible in the image.)
The Chatham Islands are surrounded by Chatham Rise, a shallow underwater plateau which extends 900 miles (1,450 km) from the east coast of the South Island. This hidden structure acts like a giant ramp that channels cold, nutrient-rich waters to the ocean surface. In summer, warmer seasonal currents mix with this nutrient-rich water, providing the ideal conditions for algae to bloom.
The circular bloom in the photo was one of the largest in recent decades. It mainly consists of coccolithophoresa group of photosynthetic plankton, or “phytoplankton,” that convert sunlight into energy and surround themselves with a complex armor of calcium carbonate.
The satellite image was captured with a special near-infrared filter, which likely enhanced the vivid hues of the algae. However, the blooming microorganisms would have been clearly visible to the naked eye from space, according to NASA Earth Observatory.
Phytoplankton form the basis of the pelagic (open water) food web, similar to the role of plants in terrestrial environments. As a result, the Chatham Islands are marine biodiversity hotspots that are home to diverse animals, including penguins, albatrosses, seals and sea lions, as well as commercially important populations of cod and lobster.
At least 25 species of whales and dolphins, or cetaceans, are also attracted to the islands for food, including orcas (Killer whale), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephaly) and pilot whales (Pilot Whale), according to New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). However, this is not always a good thing for visitors.
Large groups of cetaceans often become disoriented in shallow water and may end up accidentally swimming too close to shore and getting trapped as the tide goes outwhich is often fatal without human intervention.
Chatham Island has experienced several strandings in recent years, including an event in October 2022 in which nearly 500 pilot whales were euthanized on Chatham Island after becoming stranded in the span of about four days, according to a report. DOC report. In 1918, more than 1,000 pilot whales also died there after becoming stranded, which remains the deadliest whale stranding in history. (The pilot whales are particularly prone to strandings because they are very social, so an entire group can be dragged into danger by a single injured or disoriented individual.)
Cetaceans are not the only creatures to have met an untimely end on the Chatham Islands. The archipelago was previously home to at least eight endemic bird species that have since disappeared, 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 from Polynesia in the 15th century.
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