NASA | Phytoplankton Levels Dropping

A NASA-led study reveals a decline in phytoplankton populations, crucial marine plants that form the base of the oceanic food chain. These organisms, detectable from space by ocean color, have decreased by 1% annually in the northern hemisphere from 1998 to 2012. Phytoplankton play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, contributing to the ocean-atmosphere gas exchange. The ocean absorbs about 25% of human-emitted carbon dioxide. The ongoing decrease in phytoplankton could impact atmospheric carbon levels and the food chain, though future trends remain uncertain.

What role do phytoplankton play in the food chain?

What could be the potential effects of the decrease in phytoplankton on the atmosphere and food chain?