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The Ocean’s Changing Color: A Result of Climate Change

CNN ÔÇö

A new study suggests that the color of the ocean has significantly changed over the past two decades, and human-induced climate change is likely to blame. The study, led by scientists from the National Oceanography Center in the UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, reveals that more than 56% of the world’s oceans have experienced color changes beyond what can be explained by natural variability.

Tropical oceans near the equator, in particular, have become greener, indicating shifts in their ecosystems. These changes are primarily influenced by phytoplankton, plant-like microbes that contain chlorophyll and serve as the foundation of the ocean food web. The greener color signifies the presence of ecosystems that support larger organisms such as krill, fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.

The delicate balance of ocean ecosystems is at stake due to these color changes. Study co-author Stephanie Dutkiewicz, a senior research scientist at MIT, warns that any alteration in phytoplankton populations can disrupt the entire food chain. As our oceans continue to warm, these imbalances will exacerbate over time.

Furthermore, Dutkiewicz explains that the changing color of the oceans affects their ability to act as carbon sinks. Different types of phytoplankton absorb varying amounts of carbon, which contributes to the overall carbon storage capacity of the ocean.

The study’s authors emphasize that these color changes are undeniably driven by human-induced climate change. To monitor these changes, the researchers used satellite data from the Aqua satellite, which has been tracking ocean color for over two decades. They analyzed the variation in ocean color from 2002 to 2022 and incorporated climate change models to simulate the potential impact of increased greenhouse gas emissions.

The study’s findings aligned with Dutkiewicz’s earlier simulations, confirming that approximately 50% of the world’s oceans have already experienced color changes as predicted. Dutkiewicz expresses her sobering realization that human-induced climate change has significantly impacted the Earth system and serves as yet another wake-up call to address this urgent issue.

While it remains uncertain if these ocean color changes will become perceivable to the human eye, Dutkiewicz suggests that, in certain areas, significant tipping points may make them visible. However, a long-term observation of color shifts would be necessary to detect these changes.

In future research, Dutkiewicz aims to gain a better understanding of the color changes in different ocean regions and explore the underlying causes behind these shifts.

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