A massive, glowing patch of marine life was spotted from space off Australia’s southern coast.
NASA satellites revealed the turquoise light as a bioluminescent phytoplankton bloom stretching across the Great Australian Bight and the Tasman Sea.
The light comes from microscopic algae near the ocean’s surface.
Captured by NASA’s PACE Satellite
NASA’s PACE satellite first detected the glow in November 2024 using the Ocean Color Instrument. The bloom lit up waters between southeastern Australia and Tasmania, particularly in the Bass Strait—an area known for strong currents and deep marine channels.
Recurring Phenomenon
This isn’t the first time the region has glowed. Similar blooms were spotted in January 2024 by the Suomi NPP satellite and as early as December 2023 by NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites. These repeated sightings help scientists track the bloom’s growth over time.
Why the Ocean Glows
The glow is caused by chlorophyll-a in phytoplankton, which thrives in sunlit, nutrient-rich surface waters. Oceanographer Jochen Kaempf confirmed that the green glow follows the continental shelf, while blue hues may result from stirred-up sediment or other algae types.
Vital to Marine Life and the Planet
These blooms feed small sea creatures like krill, which in turn attract blue whales, sardines, tuna, and more. Beyond marine life, phytoplankton help produce oxygen and regulate the climate, making them essential to Earth’s ecosystems.
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