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Earth's Oceans Are Turning Green. Here's Why
5 July 2024
Image credit: Pexels
Over the past 20 years, 56% of the world's oceans have experienced a shift in colour from blue to green
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The primary cause of this colour change is linked to climate change, which affects marine ecosystems and plankton populations
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Phytoplankton, the microscopic organisms foundational to the marine food web, are proliferating, causing the greener hue
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Warmer sea surface temperatures have led to more stratified oceans, reducing nutrient mixing and favouring different plankton types
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Increased detrital particles and coloured dissolved materials in the water also contribute to the green shift
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The MODIS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite has been critical in detecting these subtle but significant colour changes over two decades
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These changes are especially pronounced in tropical regions near the equator
Image credit: Pixabay
Monitoring ocean colours beyond just chlorophyll levels provides a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem changes
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The greening of oceans impacts the carbon cycle, as different types of plankton have varying abilities to absorb carbon dioxide
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Satellites like NASA's PACE, launched in February this year, will offer even finer colour resolution to help further investigate these ecological shifts
Image credit: CBSE
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