Les Dinoflagellés - Ceratium hexacanthum

Phytoplankton bloom observed in the Barents Sea (North of Norway) in August 2010 by the ocean color sensor MODIS onboard NASA satellite Aqua. Changes in ocean color result from modifications in the phytoplankton composition and concentration. The green colors are likely associated with the presence of diatoms. The shades of light blue result from the occurrence of coccolithophores, phytoplankton organisms that strongly reflect light due to their chalky shells - Source : NASA's Earth Observatory (http:/earthobservatory.nasa.gov)

Gelatinous plankton Pelagia and Ctenophores (Photo : Fabien Lombard)

Underwater glider (Photo : David Luquet)

PLAY ANIMATION

Illustration in synthesized images of the seasons of the ocean: a year from the Arctic - Animation Clement Fontana

Rosette used to collect seawater samples during a scientific cruise in the South Pacific Ocean. During the austral summer, the amount of chlorophyll a is so low that the water becomes deep blue, almost purple. (Photo : Joséphine Ras)