The importance of ocean creatures

Atmospheric scientists have identified a new mechanism that could be of great importance because, because of this mechanism, chemical waste from floating plants (Phytoplankton) in the ocean can affect to the formation of clouds that these clouds will reflect sunlight from our planet. (Phytoplankton (Greek root phyton is plant), includes algae groups that live near the water where there is sufficient light for photosynthesis)

The study discovered that the link between the cloud and the biosphere was developed thanks to the scientists' efforts to find ways to explain the increase in cloud cover in the Southern Ocean, where an area appears. phytoplankton ' blooming ' area (South Ocean is a water area surrounding a continent of Antarctica. It is the fourth largest ocean and is determined at the latest, only approved by the Hydrographic Organization International (IHO) 2000, although the term has been used for a long time and is traditional in navigators)

Based on satellite data, scientists have hypothesized that airborne particles are generated from chemical isoprene oxidation - Isoprene produced by phytoplankton and considered as a substance. catalyzing the metabolism of nitrogen oxide - may have contributed to a double increase in the concentration of clouds on a large area of ​​the ocean, which separates itself from the east coast of South America.

Some forms of Phytoplankton (Photo: comcast.net)

By using numerical models, the scientists calculated that the increase in clouds reduced the absorption of the amount of sunlight equivalent to the amount of sunlight measured in Heavy contaminated area on earth. If confirmed by field studies, the link between clouds and biological activity could be a very important new component in earth climate models.

Many environmental scientists believe that the increase in cloud cover may partly counteract the effects of global warming by reducing the amount of energy the earth absorbs from the sun. .

'Studies like this study can help change the way we think about how the bios interact with clouds and the climate.' Mr. Nenes, associate professor of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science at Georgia Institute of Technology, said. ' One of the biggest uncertainties about climate models today is the ability to predict how clouds respond to changing element levels - whether they originate from pollution. Are human environments or are they derived from biological activities? But anyway, we can now see the impact of marine biology on ocean clouds. '

Previous scientists have proposed a theory that sulfite dimetila (DMS) - also released by phytoplankton - affects cloud formation by increasing the number of sulfate particles that these sulfate molecules have. Can absorb moisture and form clouds.

South Ocean (Photo: tripod.com)

According to Nenes, when oxidized, isoprene could enhance the effect of DMS by increasing the number and size of particles while helping them to absorb more moisture chemically. Previously, scientists thought that the effect of isoprene on particulate matter in the atmosphere was only of importance for terrestrial plants.

Scientists suddenly discovered the phytoplankton-cloud relationship quite casually. 'While observing satellite images, I noticed that the properties of clouds on a large, dense area of ​​phytoplankton are significantly different from the properties of clouds far from the dense phytoplankton area. this. ' Mr. Meskhidze, associate professor of the College of Physics and Mathematical Sciences recalls.

The Southern Ocean normally has quite a few elements that clouds can form around. Therefore, the isoprene mechanism may have a significant impact on cloud development in the Southern Ocean - and may explain most of the change in cloud cover in this region.

' If many elements are formed by oxidation of isoprene, you will suddenly have a lot of water droplets in the clouds which tend to make the clouds whiteer.' Mr. Nenes explained. 'Besides becoming whiter, clouds can also precipitate less frequently, so you can get the rise of the clouds.'

Look whole, this makes the amount of clouds in the atmosphere more and reflects the amount of sunlight back into the universe more. In this study, the scientists calculated that the amount of isoprene released could reduce energy absorption in the Southern Ocean region by about 15 watts per square meter.

The Southern Ocean is an ideal place for this study because most of it is unpolluted and has relatively stable temperature and meteorological conditions during the emergence of phytoplankton. 'This allows us to recognize the great impact of biological impact on clouds,' Nenes explained.

Mr. Nenes and Mr. Meskhidze used data from satellite observations to estimate the amount of chlorophyll in the ocean, the release of isoprene and the relationship between it and the formation of clouds. Before this new mechanism could be included in global climate models, of course it would have to be confirmed by field tests.

Atmospheric scientists believe that by blocking sunlight, increasing clouds have partly reduced the effects of global warming. The role of ocean biology on cloud formation can therefore be a major factor in global climate control, and the new mechanism identified by scientists Nenes and Meskhidze can make The role of ocean biology becomes more important.

Mr. Nenes also noted that the impact of this new mechanism needs to be further understood because anything that can change clouds on the earth can dramatically change the influence of greenhouse gases on our climate change.

' This effect shows that there are many things we need to learn more to better understand the delicate balance in nature ,' Meskhidze said. ' This requires collaborative efforts by scientists from different fields to determine the chemical composition of these aerosols, in order to calculate the amount of aerosols and possible gases. Other weights are released from the ocean, and to better understand the extent to which organisms affect the formation of clouds. '

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