In brief
Scientists are leveraging new satellite technology to monitor these critical organisms and their response to climate change.
In an ocean that covers about 75% of our planet, plankton does the heavy lifting, supporting life as we know it. These minuscule organisms make up an essential part of the marine food web, but climate change is spinning this delicate ecosystem into chaos. Just recently, NASA launched a groundbreaking satellite designed to provide the clearest view of phytoplankton diversity, aiding scientists in understanding the significant shifts occurring in ocean life. Lead scientist Jeremy Werdell highlighted the importance of these tiny beings, stating, "Do you like breathing? Do you like eating? If your answer is yes, you care about phytoplankton."Traditionally, researchers have relied on ship-based observations, offering limited and sporadic snapshots of the changing ocean conditions. While satellite imagery improved our understanding, it was still akin to looking through green-tinted glasses. With the new satellite from NASA, called PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem), scientists can now see the whole rich variety of ocean life—like unveiling a garden in full bloom. Ivona Cetinic, a NASA oceanographer, likened this leap in technology to “seeing all the flowers of the ocean.” As these tiny titans breathe life into our waters, it's our job to understand and protect them amid climate challenges.
