File:Phytoplankton Bloom in the Arabian Sea.jpg

English: Phytoplankton swirling across the Arabian Sea are drawn into thin green ribbons by turbulent eddies in this image. The bloom stretches from the shores of Pakistan (top) to the coast of Oman (lower left). The washed out appearance at the upper left of the image is due to sun-glint, which is the mirror–like reflection of sunlight off the water. Some of the brightness may be caused by blowing dust. Pakistan’s coastal waters are tinged blue as well as green. The colour may result from numerous influences, including phytoplankton and sediment. It generally isn’t possible to identify phytoplankton species through satellite observations alone, and many other kinds of phytoplankton occur in the area. However, the scientists’ description of the interloper—“N. miliaris tends to aggregate at the surface to form large, slimy green patches”— is certainly consistent with the bloom shown in this image.