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LiveScience
LiveScience
Harry Baker

Glowing ring of plankton surrounding New Zealand islands linked to deadly underwater plateau — Earth from space

New Zealand Earth Chatham Island Ocean Chatham Chatham Islands
A satellite photo showing a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean with a glowing green ring of algae surrounding them.
QUICK FACTS

Where 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.

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