Study Reveals Thriving 'Invisible Forest' of Phytoplankton in Warming Oceans
New research highlights divergent responses of surface and subsurface phytoplankton to climate change, with significant implications for marine ecosystems.
- Phytoplankton, which are crucial for primary production and carbon dioxide removal, are showing varied responses to ocean warming.
- Subsurface phytoplankton biomass has significantly increased over the past decade, while surface phytoplankton biomass has remained stable despite reduced chlorophyll levels.
- The study utilized 33 years of data from the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) in the Sargasso Sea.
- Findings indicate a shallowing of the ocean's surface mixed-layer due to rapid warming in the last decade.
- Researchers emphasize the need for improved global monitoring of subsurface phytoplankton, which are not detectable by satellite observations.
ScienceDaily 
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