NASA | Earth Science Week: The Ocean's Green Machines

Published 53 days ago

"The Ocean's Green Machines" is Episode 3 in the six-part series "Tides of Change", exploring amazing NASA ocean science to celebrate Earth Science Week 2009. To find out more visit http://climate.nasa.gov/esw Want more?... more

"The Ocean's Green Machines" is Episode 3 in the six-part series "Tides of Change", exploring amazing NASA ocean science to celebrate Earth Science Week 2009. To find out more visit http://climate.nasa.gov/esw Want more? Subscribe to NASA on iTunes! http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=283424434 Or get tweeted by NASA: http://twitter.com/NASAGoddard One tiny marine plant makes life on Earth possible: phytoplankton. These microscopic photosynthetic drifters form the basis of the marine food web, they regulate carbon in the atmosphere, and are responsible for half of the photosynthesis that takes place on this planet. Earth’s climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, and as our home planet warms, so does the ocean. Warming waters have big consequences for phytoplankton and for the planet. less

Tags: nasa goddard space flight center earth science week ocean sea water marine life plankton phytoplankton biosphere photosynthesis