Each summer, parts of the Arctic Ocean and peripheral seas lose their ice cover and…
Browsing: Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that live in watery environments, both salty and fresh. They are the aquatic equivalent of terrestrial plants, capable of photosynthesis—they convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. As such, they are a crucial component of the oceanic food chain and a primary producer, serving as the foundation for most marine food webs. Phytoplankton are also vital to global carbon cycling and are influential in controlling the Earth’s climate. Changes in their population size and composition can have significant effects on climate, given their role in carbon dioxide absorption. They are sensitive indicators of environmental changes, including water temperature, salinity levels, and pollution, making them essential subjects for environmental and climatological studies. Blooms of phytoplankton, while natural, can sometimes lead to detrimental ecological effects, such as hypoxia (low oxygen levels) or the production of harmful toxins that can impact marine and human life.
Stanford scientists find the growth of phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean has increased 57 percent…
Phytoplankton play a crucial role in ocean biology and climate. Understanding the natural processes that…
Study finds Earth’s oceans contain just the right amount of iron; adding more may not…
Machine learning Earth system model projects higher numbers in low-latitude regions. A neural network-driven Earth…
When Kīlauea Volcano erupted in 2018, it injected millions of cubic feet of molten lava…
Subtropical gyres are huge, sustained currents spanning thousands of kilometers across the Pacific and Atlantic…
Each new season brings change. Seasonal change on land is something that we’re familiar with…
A team of researchers is using a new model to explain the blooms of phytoplankton…
In a newly published study, scientists from MIT reveal unintended consequences of an idea to…
A newly published study shows that phytoplankton are extremely sensitive to changing levels of desert…
A newly published study from MIT and colleagues shows that ocean acidification may cause dramatic…