World’s Oceans Losing Their “Greenness” Due to Global Heating
World’s Oceans Losing Their “Greenness” Due to Global Heating
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The world’s oceans are rapidly losing their natural “greenness,” a change caused by global heating that signals a fundamental alteration in marine ecosystems, according to a new study reported by The Guardian.
The “greenness” of the ocean refers to the presence of chlorophyll—the pigment used by microscopic marine plants called phytoplankton. These tiny organisms are the base of the marine food web and play a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.
The study found that about 56% of the world’s oceans have already changed color over the past two decades. While the change might appear subtle to the human eye, shifting toward bluer hues in some areas and greener in others, it is significant to scientists because it reflects major changes in phytoplankton populations.
Researchers determined that the change in ocean color can only be explained by human-induced climate change. Warming sea temperatures stratify the water, making it harder for nutrients to rise from the deeper ocean to the surface where phytoplankton live. This nutrient starvation reduces the growth of phytoplankton, which in turn affects the entire marine food chain and diminishes the ocean’s ability to act as a carbon sink.
The study’s findings confirm a dire prediction made over two decades ago, warning that the loss of “greenness” signals widespread impacts on global marine biodiversity.
