Studying the tiny life of phytoplankton
Phytoplankton. Have you ever heard of them? At NASA, these tiny organisms are kind of a big deal.
Biodiversity in the ocean is a delicate, but essential balance for life on Earth. One way NASA studies this balance is by observing phytoplankton – microalgae that contain chlorophyll, require light to grow, and form the base of the marine food chain.
Phytoplankton even have an essential role in an upcoming NASA mission.
This mission is called PACE- “Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem.” It will reveal interactions between the ocean and atmosphere, including how they exchange carbon dioxide and how atmospheric aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.
Here are four areas main areas the mission will focus on as part of #WorldOceansMonth.
1. Harmful algal blooms: Not the good kind of bloom
The word “bloom” sounds pretty, but harmful algal blooms (HABs) are anything but.
When an ocean region is rich in nutrients – think of it as adding fertilizer to the ocean - phytoplankton such as cyanobacteria multiply much faster than usual. This is called a “bloom.”
Some blooms are smelly and ugly but harmless. Others, like HABs, release toxins into the water that can make fish, shellfish, turtles and even humans very sick.
NASA’s PACE mission will help track phytoplankton growth and ocean health to make sure all of us stay healthy, balanced and blooming. In a good way.
2. Aerosols: The sea-sky connection
What do phytoplankton and clouds have in common? More than you might think.
PACE will also study aerosols, which are any particles or droplets suspended in our atmosphere. Humans create aerosols, like soot or car exhaust, but some phytoplankton release aerosols too.
For example, dust – also an aerosol – can blow into the ocean, depositing iron that helps phytoplankton grow. These phytoplankton then release dimethyl sulfide, a gas that turns into an aerosol, which can influence how clouds form.
Whether the aerosols in our atmosphere come from the ocean or land, it’s important to know how they are impacting our environment. PACE will help clear up some of our questions about what is in our air.
3. Biodiversity: The more, the merrier
A healthy ocean supports healthy industries and economies, contributes to a healthy atmosphere and helps keep plants, animals and humans healthy and happy. One key to a healthy, balanced ocean is lots of biodiversity.
Biodiversity means having a wide variety of plant and animal species in an ecosystem. It’s important to have many different species of phytoplankton, because each species plays a different role in processing carbon, providing food for tiny animals, and keeping the ocean healthy.
PACE will track the size and movements of phytoplankton populations from space to help our seas stay diverse and bountiful.
4. Fisheries: Phytoplankton feed fish feed friends
One simple reason for tracking the ocean’s health is that fish eat tiny animals that eat phytoplankton, and people eat fish.
Fisheries and aquaculture support about 12 percent of jobs around the world, including employing more than 3 million people in the United States. By better understanding our ocean’s health and how it might change in the future, we can make predictions about impacts to our economies and food supply.
To learn more about phytoplankton, visit our website.
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