Earth's Blue Oceans Turning Green Due to Climate Change: NASA Satellite Data
Recent research has uncovered a significant and visually striking transformation in our oceans: over the past 20 years, the tropical ocean has turned greener. This change in hue is more than just a shift in color; it reflects underlying changes in ocean ecosystems due to climate change. The green coloration corresponds to an increase in phytoplankton, the microscopic plant-like organisms at the heart of the ocean's food web. This phenomenon is a key focus of the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission, which launched in 2024 to monitor these critical changes. The deep-blue sea is turning a touch greener, and while this might not seem as immediate as rising sea surface temperatures, it is deeply significant. The color of the ocean surface is a window into the health and composition of the ecosystem beneath. Phytoplankton, the foundational organisms in the aquatic food web and carbon cycle, thrive in near-surface waters, and their increas...
