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Related: About this forumMIT Study - 150-Year Decline In N. Atlantic Phytoplankton Coincides With Warming
MIT News) Virtually all marine life depends on the productivity of phytoplankton microscopic organisms that work tirelessly at the oceans surface to absorb the carbon dioxide that gets dissolved into the upper ocean from the atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, these microbes break down carbon dioxide into oxygen, some of which ultimately gets released back to the atmosphere, and organic carbon, which they store until they themselves are consumed. This plankton-derived carbon fuels the rest of the marine food web, from the tiniest shrimp to giant sea turtles and humpback whales.
Now, scientists at MIT, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and elsewhere have found evidence that phytoplanktons productivity is declining steadily in the North Atlantic, one of the worlds most productive marine basins. In a paper appearing today in Nature, the researchers report that phytoplanktons productivity in this important region has gone down around 10 percent since the mid-19th century and the start of the Industrial era. This decline coincides with steadily rising surface temperatures over the same period of time.
Matthew Osman, the papers lead author and a graduate student in MITs Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography, says there are indications that phytoplanktons productivity may decline further as temperatures continue to rise as a result of human-induced climate change.
Its a significant enough decline that we should be concerned, Osman says. The amount of productivity in the oceans roughly scales with how much phytoplankton you have. So this translates to 10 percent of the marine food base in this region thats been lost over the industrial era. If we have a growing population but a decreasing food base, at some point were likely going to feel the effects of that decline.
EDIT
https://desdemonadespair.net/2019/05/north-atlantic-ocean-phytoplankton-decline-coincides-with-warming-temperatures-over-the-last-150-years-10-percent-of-the-marine-food-base-in-this-region-has-been-lost-over-the-indus.html
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MIT Study - 150-Year Decline In N. Atlantic Phytoplankton Coincides With Warming (Original Post)
hatrack
May 2019
OP
Botany
(70,510 posts)1. Thanks for posting
n/t
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)2. I accept that humans
are having a strong influence on global warming/climate change. I accept that the criminal tRump/reTHUGlican cabal must be removed from positions of power. So what's the hold-up?