Sunlight is vanishing from the ocean depths, disrupting phytoplankton, coral reproduction and the planet’s ability to stay cool. So why is no one sounding the alarm?
As an avid SCUBA diver (55 years) and ocean farmer (30 years) I have certainly noticed the reduction in seawater visibilty over that time. it has been very significant in the FL Keys where I operate, and elsewhere in the Caribbean based on repots I get from travellers.
I wonder if blooms of phytoplankton such as Coccolithipore, visible from space as milky colored water, are helping increase the carbon sequestration we see with marine life in general. These tiny plants draw CO2 and Calcium together to produce calcium carbonate skeletons that can sink into the ocean depths. Is it possible to quantify the effect?
Really appreciate you taking the time to share this. Your experience diving and farming gives you a front-row seat to changes most people never see. I’ve heard similar reports from others in the Caribbean, but it hits different when it comes from someone who’s been in the water that long.
You make a great point about coccolithophores. They’re often overlooked in these conversations. Their ability to pull down CO2 and form calcium carbonate that sinks makes them a real player in ocean carbon cycling. The big question, as you say, is whether we can quantify it in a meaningful way.
Some studies suggest their contribution to carbon export is significant in certain regions, but it’s highly variable and depends on a lot of factors; bloom size, water depth, how much material reaches the seabed. Still, it’s an area worth digging into more, especially as we try to understand the full picture of what’s driving these changes.
Would be really interested to hear more about the visibility shifts you’ve seen in the Keys!
As an avid SCUBA diver (55 years) and ocean farmer (30 years) I have certainly noticed the reduction in seawater visibilty over that time. it has been very significant in the FL Keys where I operate, and elsewhere in the Caribbean based on repots I get from travellers.
I wonder if blooms of phytoplankton such as Coccolithipore, visible from space as milky colored water, are helping increase the carbon sequestration we see with marine life in general. These tiny plants draw CO2 and Calcium together to produce calcium carbonate skeletons that can sink into the ocean depths. Is it possible to quantify the effect?
Really appreciate you taking the time to share this. Your experience diving and farming gives you a front-row seat to changes most people never see. I’ve heard similar reports from others in the Caribbean, but it hits different when it comes from someone who’s been in the water that long.
You make a great point about coccolithophores. They’re often overlooked in these conversations. Their ability to pull down CO2 and form calcium carbonate that sinks makes them a real player in ocean carbon cycling. The big question, as you say, is whether we can quantify it in a meaningful way.
Some studies suggest their contribution to carbon export is significant in certain regions, but it’s highly variable and depends on a lot of factors; bloom size, water depth, how much material reaches the seabed. Still, it’s an area worth digging into more, especially as we try to understand the full picture of what’s driving these changes.
Would be really interested to hear more about the visibility shifts you’ve seen in the Keys!