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Article: NASA satellite detects red glow to map global ocean plants' health
- Article from:
- Xinhua News Agency
- Article date:
- May 28, 2009
CopyrightCopyright 2009 Xinhua News Agency. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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NASA satellite detects red glow to map global ocean plants'
health
WASHINGTON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Researchers have conducted the
first global analysis of the health and productivity of ocean plants
using a unique signal detected by NASA's Aqua satellite, NASA said
Thursday.
Ocean scientists can now remotely measure the amount of
fluorescent red light emitted by phytoplankton and assess how
efficiently these microscopic plants turn sunlight and nutrients
into food through photosynthesis. Researchers also can study how
changes in the global environment alter these processes at the
center of the ocean food web.
Single-celled phytoplankton fuel nearly all ocean ecosystems,
serving as the most ...