Milky seas (Somali: Kaluunka iftiima; English: Milky seas), also called mareel, is a luminous phenomenon in the ocean in which large areas of seawater (up to 6,000 sq mi or 16,000 km2) appear to glow translucently (in varying shades of blue). Such occurrences glow brightly enough at night to be visible from satellites orbiting Earth.
Mariners and other seafarers have reported that the ocean often emits a visible glow which extends for miles at night. In 2005, scientists announced that for the first time, they had obtained photographic evidence of this glow.[1] It is most likely caused by bioluminescence.[2][3][4]
- ^ Britt, Robert Roy (October 4, 2005). "Mystery Ocean Glow Confirmed in Satellite Photos". Live Science.
- ^ Holladay, April (November 21, 2005). "A glowing sea, courtesy of algae". USA Today.
- ^ "Sea's eerie glow seen from space". New Scientist. October 5, 2005.
- ^ Casey, Amy (August 8, 2003). "The Incredible Glowing Algae". NASA Earth Observatory. NASA.