Carbon dioxide exchange in the ocean. Animation 1 of 3 of a sequence showing how the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, how that process is observed from space, and how the observations help scientists model the climate. 25 percent of our carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by the ocean. Microscopic phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and their green chlorophyll changes the colour of the ocean surface. Earth observation satellites use the colour of the ocean to measure the amount of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll maps can then be used in a climate model to help calculate the exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the ocean. Scientists working with the European Space Agency's Climate Change Initiative have found that satellite-derived chlorophyll data has improved the match between climate models and in-situ observations of ocean chlorophyll and carbon. This adds to our understanding of this important carbon sink, enabling modellers to create improved climate projections. For the series of three clips, see K008/6635, K008/6632 and K008/6628. For the entire animation with and without captions, see K008/6534 and K008/6542. | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit : | Science Photo Library |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Durée : | 22 Secondes |
Aspect ratio : | 16/9 |
Restrictions : | - |