A turquoise tint for the Black Sea caused by phytoplankton

Astrobitica June 25, 2026 (Last updated: June 25, 2026) 1 minute read

The Black Sea is located at the boundary between Europe and Asia and connects to the Mediterranean Sea through a series of waterways. On June 22, 2026, the OCI on NASA’s PACE satellite captured an image of the sea, which often appears dark but transforms into a vibrant turquoise during spring and summer.

The Black Sea sits at the boundary between Europe and Asia and connects to the Mediterranean Sea via a chain of waterways. Its surface often appears dark, but each spring and summer it transforms into a striking expanse of swirling turquoise. The OCI (Ocean Color Instrument) on NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) satellite captured this image (above) on June 22, 2026.