Earth is often called the blue planet, all because of our world’s vast oceans. However now experts say that might not be the case for long as satellite imaging has revealed they’re turning green.
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00:00Earth is often called the blue planet, all because of our world's vast oceans.
00:08However, now experts say that might not be the case for long, as satellite imaging has
00:12revealed they're turning green.
00:13This discovery is the result of 20 years worth of data, and experts from both the US and
00:18the UK say it's likely due to global warming, but not how you might imagine.
00:22Science Alert reports that phytoplankton numbers are increasing, creatures which use chlorophyll
00:26in their process of photosynthesis.
00:28And while this phenomenon might be wild to watch, it's not necessarily good for our planet's
00:32ecosystems.
00:33That's because their populations have a direct negative impact on the oxygen levels of the
00:37ocean water around them.
00:39When their numbers surge, they can cause what are called hypoxic dead zones, or areas where
00:43the ocean water is depleted of O2, choking any sea creatures that enter.
00:47So why are their numbers booming, so much that it's changing the ocean's color?
00:51Well phytoplankton like CO2, and warmer waters, and our planet is rapidly heating due to CO2
00:56from human industry, meaning we're effectively creating a perfect environment for these ocean
01:01greenifiers to thrive.