Color of the Ocean and PACE Mission Quiz

Study Notes

The color of the ocean can vary and is not just blue. It can be blue, green, red, yellow, and a combination of these colors.
NASA has been studying the color of the ocean for over 20 years using technology that is now outdated.
PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission) is a new mission that will use advanced instruments to study the color of the ocean and provide insights into marine communities, the carbon cycle, and climate studies.
The deep blue color of the open ocean is caused by the absorption of longer red wavelengths and the scattering of blues. Bacteria play a role in cycling and recycling nutrients in this environment.
The deep blues of the open ocean are becoming greener due to a warming climate, but the reasons for this change are not clear.
Colored dissolved organic matter gives water a darker, browner hue and is an indicator of ecosystem health. PACE will help differentiate sources of this organic matter and understand the transfer of carbon across land and into coastal regions.
Cyanobacteria blooms, which can be harmful to aquatic and human life, can be detected using hyperspectral measurements from PACE. This will help differentiate harmful algae from other phytoplankton and allow for better monitoring of freshwater health.
Sediment in the water can impact marine life. Glacial flour, a fine powder of silt and clay, can change the appearance of water and bring nutrients for algal blooms. High sediment levels can affect filter feeders like oysters and increase harmful Vibrio bacteria.
PACE's hyperspectral measurements will provide better estimates of water clarity and particle size, which can be useful for monitoring the health of oyster populations.