Called mareel, the milky sea is caused by bioluminescent bacteria, billions of trillions of them, that live throughout the water column from the surface to the sea floor. For the first time, the luminescent nautical phenomenon has been discovered in satellite data and subsequently corroborated by sailors. Milky Sea PhenomenonWhy in News The scientists are using new satellite technology Day/Night Band to find glow-in-the-dark milky seas. Key Points About: Also called mareel, it is a rare form of marine bioluminescence where the nocturnal ocean surface produces a widespread, uniform and steady whitish glow. Bioluminescence is light produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism. About two or three milky seas occur per year worldwide, mostly in the waters of the northwest Indian Ocean ... Some researchers would use satellites to study the elusive milky sea phenomenon. What is the Milky Sea ? Milky seas, also called mareel, is a luminous phenomenon in the ocean in which large areas of seawater appear to glow translucently (in varying shades of blue).
