NASA | Phytoplankton Levels Dropping

A NASA-led study reveals a decline in phytoplankton populations, crucial marine plants that form the base of the oceanic food chain. These organisms, detectable from space by ocean color, have decreased by 1% annually in the northern hemisphere from 1998 to 2012. Phytoplankton play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, contributing to the ocean-atmosphere gas exchange. The ocean absorbs about 25% of human-emitted carbon dioxide. The ongoing decrease in phytoplankton could impact atmospheric carbon levels and the food chain, though future trends remain uncertain.

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