Average chlorophyll concentration in the surface ocean (from mi-September 1997 to August 2007) from the ocean color sensor SeaWiFS (NASA). Subtropical gyres, in the center of the oceanic basins, are characterized by very low concentrations of chlorophyll a (dark blue) - Source : NASA's Earth Observatory (http:/earthobservatory.nasa.gov)
Instrumented buoy (Photo : David Luquet)
The research vessel "Marion Dufresne"
Foraminifera Orbulina universa and mollusk larva (Photo : Fabien Lombard)
Siphonophores - The longest animals on the planet Cousins of corals, siphonophores are colonies of specialized individuals called zoids. Some catch and digest their prey, others swim, or lay eggs or sperm.
Deployment of a profiling float (Photo : Jean-JacquesPangrazi)
Diatom genus Rhizosolenia (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Rosette used to collect seawater samples during a scientific cruise in the South Pacific Ocean. Duringthe austral summer,the amount of chlorophyllais so low thatthe water becomesdeepblue,almostpurple. (Photo : Joséphine Ras)
