Jumbo Content

Phytoplankton and Climate


The ocean is a critical part of the world\’s economy. Forty percent of the world’s population lives within 100 km (62 mi) of a coastline, with fisheries and aquaculture supporting about 12% of the world’s livelihoods. In the U.S., there are nearly 3 million jobs related to the ocean.<br /><br />

PACE will provide the first-ever global measurements designed to identify the composition of communities of phytoplankton. This will significantly improve our ability to decipher Earth’s changing marine ecosystems, manage natural resources such as fisheries, and identify harmful algal blooms (HABs).
Credit: Andy Warner and Uta Passow (NSF). Download this image (PNG, 845 KB).
[03-Oct-19] Most phytoplankton can only be seen with a microscope. But they're incredibly important. From the Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry website.