These satellite images show the ebb and flow of plant life on earth over three years, taken by a NASA satellite called SeaWiFS. The blue areas are void of plants, the red spots indicate an overabundance, and the green areas show where plants are thriving. This is the earth breathing. The plants are taking up CO₂, and they’re breathing out oxygen. As suggested by oceanographers, almost half of that activity is going on underwater. The oceans are teeming with tiny microscopic plants called phytoplankton. They are at the bottom of the food chain, and they basically feed all sea life. Like all plants, phytoplankton absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere. 

    These images show that phytoplankton boomed over the last three years. That’s one of the key benefits of these satellite images. Over time, scientists will use them to help predict how plants might respond as we burn more fossil fuels, and as global CO₂ levels rise. Many scientists think such greenhouse gasses will cause global warming. They suggest that it is related to recent climate change. However, what they don’t know is how life in the ocean will respond over the long haul if CO₂ levels keep rising.