00:00Earth is often called the blue planet, all because of our world's vast oceans.
00:08However, now experts say that might not be the case for long, as satellite imaging has
00:12revealed they're turning green.
00:13This discovery is the result of 20 years worth of data, and experts from both the US and
00:18the UK say it's likely due to global warming, but not how you might imagine.
00:22Science Alert reports that phytoplankton numbers are increasing, creatures which use chlorophyll
00:26in their process of photosynthesis.
00:28And while this phenomenon might be wild to watch, it's not necessarily good for our planet's
00:32ecosystems.
00:33That's because their populations have a direct negative impact on the oxygen levels of the
00:37ocean water around them.
00:39When their numbers surge, they can cause what are called hypoxic dead zones, or areas where
00:43the ocean water is depleted of O2, choking any sea creatures that enter.
00:47So why are their numbers booming, so much that it's changing the ocean's color?
00:51Well phytoplankton like CO2, and warmer waters, and our planet is rapidly heating due to CO2
00:56from human industry, meaning we're effectively creating a perfect environment for these ocean
01:01greenifiers to thrive.
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