NASA satellites detect Pacific Ocean turning blue due to El Niño

NASA satellite imagery reveals that the equatorial Pacific Ocean is turning a distinct blue, a phenomenon linked to an intense El Niño cycle. This color shift is not caused by pollution, but rather by a significant decrease in phytoplankton populations.

Under normal conditions, trade winds facilitate upwelling, bringing cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface to support photosynthetic plankton, which typically gives the ocean a greenish or brownish hue. However, during El Niño, weakened trade winds reduce this nutrient supply, causing plankton levels to drop and leaving the water appearing more blue.

Scientists warn that this shift could have cascading effects on marine ecosystems, commercial fishing, and the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Some experts suggest there is an 83% possibility that this current El Niño event could become one of the strongest in recorded history, with potential consequences lasting through 2027.