Average chlorophyll concentration in the surface ocean (from mi-September 1997 to August 2007) from the ocean color sensor SeaWiFS (NASA). Subtropical gyres, in the center of the oceanic basins, are characterized by very low concentrations of chlorophyll a (dark blue) - Source : NASA's Earth Observatory (http:/earthobservatory.nasa.gov)

Squid larva (Photo : Fabien Lombard)

Radiolarians  (Photo : Fabien Lombard)

Villefranche-sur-Mer in stormy weather, winter 2011 -  Photo : J.-M. Grisoni

Jellyfish Pelagia noctilica  (Photo : Fabien Lombard)

Foraminifera Ruber (Photo : Fabien Lombard)

World ocean currents map

Ctenaria Beroe ovata  (Photo : Fabien Lombard)

The research vessel "James COOK"

Instrumented buoy (Photo : David Luquet)

Annelid worm (Photo : Fabien Lombard)

Krill (Photo : Fabien Lombard)

Rosette for collecting seawater samples

Rosette used to collect seawater samples during a scientific cruise in the South Pacific Ocean. During the austral summer, the amount of chlorophyll a is so low that the water becomes deep blue, almost purple. (Photo : Joséphine Ras)