Phytoplankton

The Forest Only Visible from Space

If you took one single drop of water from the surface and placed it under a microscope, you would discover thousands of phytoplankton floating around in the sample.

NASA

Trillions of these minuscule marine algae are responsible for generating the overall composition of both the ocean and the air we breathe.

Though almost invisible to the human eye, seasonal phytoplankton blooms explode across the global ocean, producing up to 50 percent of our oxygen—more than redwoods, the largest and tallest trees in the world—and creating dazzling displays of color that can only be seen from outer space.

NOAA

Norman Kuring / NASA

What makes it possible for us to detect these “forests” of microalgae from space is chlorophyll, a green pigment found in phytoplankton that tints the nearby waters.

Chlorophyll also plays a critical role in photosynthesis, which enables the ocean to absorb one-third of the carbon dioxide caused by human activities.

NOAA

Phytoplankton are one of the building blocks of life on Earth, achieving this feat despite the fact that each individual microscopic organism has a lifespan of only a few days.

Nearly all marine animals directly or indirectly depend on phytoplankton for sustenance. Yet, their future is at risk from ocean warming.