Blooming Seas around Chatham Islands: A Spectacle of Ocean Productivity and Climate Dynamics

Context

During the Southern Hemisphere summer, an unusual phytoplankton bloom was observed in the ocean around the Chatham Islands

About Chatham Islands

• A remote archipelago and the easternmost territory of New Zealand, located in the South Pacific Ocean.
• Location: Approximately 800 km east of New Zealand’s South Island
• The Chatham Islands sit on the Chatham Rise, an underwater plateau that extends eastward from the South Island of New Zealand. 
  • The top of the rise is relatively shallow and separates areas of deeper water to the north and south. These seafloor contours make blooms common along the Chatham Rise, where cold, nutrient-rich currents from the Antarctic and warm, nutrient-poor water from the subtropics converge.
  •  The well-mixed water, coupled with long daylight hours, can boost phytoplankton populations.
• Islands: The group consists of 10 islands, but only two are permanently inhabited:
  • Chatham Island (Rekohu/Wharekauri): The largest, featuring rolling hills, lagoons, and peat bogs.
  • Pitt Island (Rangiauria): Smaller and more rugged, located 23 km to the southeast.
• Time Zone: The islands observe Chatham Island Standard Time (CHAST), which is 45 minutes ahead of mainland New Zealand, making it the first inhabited place to see the sunrise each day.
• Endemic Biodiversity: Home to some of the world’s rarest birds, including the Chatham Island Black Robin (once down to just 5 individuals), the Magenta Petrel (Tāiko), and the Chatham Island Pigeon (Parea).

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