Tropical waters have turned green in colour, courtesy climate change: Study

Source: The post is based on the article “Tropical waters have turned green in colour, courtesy climate change: Study” published in Down to Earth on 12th July 2023

What is the News?

A recent study has indicated that Tropical Ocean waters are turning Green in colour due to alteration in phytoplankton communities.

About the Study:

The study has found that 56% of the global ocean — a territory larger than the total land area on Earth — experienced color change between 2002 and 2022.

Tropical ocean regions near the Equator seem to have become greener over time. The southern Indian Ocean, in particular, has seen a significant colour change.

What does green color in oceans indicate?

Green-coloured water indicates life, especially phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like organisms. Blue, in contrast, indicates little life.

The colour also determines the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the ocean. Currently, oceans absorb 25% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Why are Tropical oceans turning green in colour?

Researchers said that more work would be needed to find out what exactly those colour changes might mean. But they have said climate change was very likely to be the cause.

What is the impact of Climate Change on oceans?

Climate change threatens global oceans and the life that depends on them in multiple ways.

For instance, a 2020 study has warned that polar bears could largely disappear by the end of the century if global warming continues.

Another study found that half of the world’s coral reefs have already been killed by warmer waters and ocean acidification.