The National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) says a plankton-bloom photographed off New Zealand by NASA is an important carbon sink.
The spectacular images captured by a NASA satellite give the ocean a swirling milky quality.
Dr Cliff Law from NIWA says the plankton are microscopic plant cells that absorb carbon in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels.
Cliff Law says it's not known how the plankton will be affected as excessive carbon in the air makes the oceans more acidic.
He told Checkpoint plankton blooms often appear at this time of year, but unusually clear skies helped NASA to take the pictures.
