Satellite data on flourescence of marine plants helps evaluate global warming

Researchers from Oregon State University, NASA and other orgnaisations said today that they have succedded for the first time in measuring the physiology of marine phytoplankon through satelite measurements of its flourescence.

With this new tool and the continued use of the MODIS Aqua satellite, scientists will now be able to gain a reasonably accurate picture of the ocean's health and productivity about every week, all over the planet.Data such as this will be critically important in evaluating the effect on oceans of global warming, climate change, desertification and other changes, the researchers said. It will also be a key to determining which areas of the ocean are limited in their productivity by iron deficiency.