How El Niño Impacts Marine Plant Life

The video explains how changes in ocean color, visible from space, indicate shifts in phytoplankton populations. These tiny marine plants form the base of the ocean food web. During El Nino events, warm waters disrupt nutrient supplies, leading to phytoplankton decline, affecting marine species and fisheries. NASA's satellite imagery helps us understand these dynamics and the importance of phytoplankton in Earth's ecosystem.

What is indicated by a change in ocean color as observed from space?

• A shift in ocean currents

• A decrease in marine biodiversity

• An increase in sea temperature

• A change in phytoplankton populations

How does El Nino affect the nutrient supply in the ocean?

• It blocks the nutrient supply from the ocean depths

• It increases the nutrient supply from the ocean depths

• It enhances nutrient mixing at the surface

• It has no effect on nutrient supply

Which region is most affected by the decline in phytoplankton during El Nino?

• The Arctic Ocean

• The Mediterranean Sea

• The Indian Ocean

• The equator towards South America

What is one consequence of reduced phytoplankton populations?

• Starvation of small fish

• Increased fish populations

• Expansion of mangrove forests

• Growth of coral reefs

How do NASA's satellites contribute to our understanding of ocean ecosystems?

• By measuring ocean salinity

• By tracking ocean currents

• By predicting weather patterns

• By observing changes in phytoplankton populations