Much like raging wildfires, scorching heat waves and drenching floods, the ocean’s changing color is yet another warning sign of human-driven climate change, according to a new study that analyzed two decades’ worth of specialized satellite observations.
But even though seawater has always differed depending on location, season or currents, scientists say the color of more than half of the world’s oceans is changing — and fast., the ocean’s changing color is yet another warning sign of human-driven climate change, according to a new study that analyzed two decades’ worth of specialized satellite observations.
last week in Nature. “Changes in such a short amount of time are not good because they put the whole ecosystem out of balance.”— and the effects they could have on marine life — in 2019. And even then, she said satellites would “be the sentinels” in determining whether the ocean’s color was shifting.
In the ocean, water can have a brownish tint if it’s loaded with dead leaves and sediments spewing from rivers, she said. In other places, the ocean can showcase a range from deep navy blue to a greener-looking shade — and that’s where phytoplankton come into play. In some places, rising temperatures are changing ocean currents, disrupting the flow of deep-sea nutrients that surface-dwelling phytoplankton need to survive. That lack of nutrition can decrease phytoplankton populations — turning the water bluer. In other areas, Dutkiewicz said the water has taken on a greener tint as phytoplankton populations increase — a boom that can be “too much” for the ecosystem to sustain.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What's causing this summer's extreme heat waves?In the wee hours of July 17, Death Valley, Calif., may have sweltered under the hottest midnight temperature ever recorded — 48.9° C (120° F)
Read more »
Report: John Kerry Admits China Climate Trip Is a FailureU.S. special climate envoy John Kerry concluded his three-day trip to Beijing with no agreement on further actions to slash carbon pollution.
Read more »
US, China to work 'intensively' on climate in weeks ahead - KerryU.S. climate envoy John Kerry said more work was needed to iron out agreements with China on major issues, after three days of talks in Beijing designed to rebuild trust between the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters.
Read more »
Climate protesters arrested on Capitol Hill, placed in restraints amid IRS whistleblower hearingSeveral climate protesters were placed in restraints and escorted out of the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday, just ahead of a House Oversight Committee hearing.
Read more »
John Kerry comes up empty in China climate talksSpecial Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterparts failed to reach a climate agreement this week, they announced Wednesday.
Read more »