2023-07-13 09:20:03
Paris (AFP) – The color of large swaths of Earth’s oceans has changed over the past 20 years, with seas becoming greener closer to the tropics, according to a new study. The researchers say this highlights the impact of climate change on the ecology of the world’s oceans.
Scientists say they have detected color shifts in more than half of the world’s oceans, which is larger than the entire landmass of the world combined.
The study was published in the scientific journal Nature. According to the study authors, this is the result of changes in the ecosystem, especially the tiny plankton, which are the center of the marine food web and play a key role in stabilizing the atmosphere.
“The reason we care regarding these color changes is because the color reflects the state of the ecosystem, so the color changes Means a change in the ecosystem.”
Observing the color of the ocean from space gives a picture of what’s going on in the upper waters.
If the ocean is dark blue, there is little life in the water; if the sea is greener, there may be more biological activity, especially from photosynthetic phytoplankton, which contain chlorophyll like plants.
These phytoplankton produce large amounts of oxygen and are an important part of the global carbon cycle and the basis of marine food webs.
While the researchers say more research is needed to find out what these color changes might mean, climate change is likely the cause.
Climate change affects more than half of the world’s oceans
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