NASA Satellites Show More Than Half of Earth’s Oceans Turning Green Due to Climate Change
Satellite data from NASA has revealed that over 56 percent of the Earth’s oceans have undergone a transformation, changing from blue to green over the past two decades. The changes in color have raised concerns among scientists, who are now investigating the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
The greening of the oceans, particularly noticeable in tropical regions near the equator, is a subtle yet significant indication of the effects of climate change on marine life. Nasa’s Modis-Aqua satellite captured the gradual shift from blue to predominantly green hues, covering an area greater than the entirety of land on Earth.
BB Cael from the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, UK, and his colleagues analyzed the satellite data and believe that the change in color is linked to shifting ecosystems resulting from climate change. While the exact cause and the nature of these shifts are still unconfirmed, researchers suspect that phytoplankton, the base of most food chains and crucial in producing oxygen and stabilizing the atmosphere, may play a role.
“The effects of climate change are already being felt in the surface marine microbial ecosystem,” the study notes.
The authors of the study argue that the change in color may indicate a larger problem concerning the state of ocean ecosystems. Typically, deep blue indicates less life, while greener hues suggest increased activity from phytoplankton. The color of the ocean can vary from year to year due to variations in chlorophyll levels at the surface, making it challenging to ascertain whether the shift from blue to green is solely attributable to climate change.
Scientists initially estimated that it would take up to 40 years of monitoring ocean color before noticeable trends could be observed. Furthermore, different satellites measure color changes in various ways, making it difficult to combine the data obtained from each one.
To further investigate the changing colors of the ocean, NASA has scheduled the launch of the Pace mission in January 2024. This mission will aim to monitor plankton, aerosol, clouds, and the overall ocean ecosystem to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.
As climate change continues to affect the planet, understanding its impact on marine ecosystems is of utmost importance. NASA’s efforts to study the green oceans will contribute to the growing body of knowledge and inform initiatives aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change on these delicate ecosystems.