The oceans and the seas cover two-thirds of the planet's surface and there is still so much we have to learn about the flora and fauna of the sea and the world they live in.

Friends of the Oceans gives their support to the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS), a charity that monitors the health of the seas.

In a world where the human induced effects are accelerating, it is very important that we monitor changes that could alter the marine world. SAHFOS examines a number of different factors relating to plankton species.  The sensitivity of plankton to changes in the environment make them useful early warning indicators of the health of ocean systems and climate change. Phytoplankton, microscopic marine plants, form the basis of the marine food chain and are responsible for the removal of approximately 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere every year.

Policy makers and scientists use the research undertaken by SAHFOS to learn more about climate change and global warming.

 

From ImageQuest3D