Curtin University has joined forces with NASA, University of Miami, San Jos\u00e9 State University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology on a new-generation satellite mission to study the colour of the ocean from space, providing vital information about ocean health and its role in climate regulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Researchers recently deployed a 15-metre-tall buoy off the coast of Perth, Western Australia, as part of a new project to ensure the data quality for NASA\u2019s newly launched PACE<\/a> (Plankton, Aerosols, Clouds, Ocean Ecosystems) satellite mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professor David Antoine<\/a>, head of Curtin\u2019s Remote Sensing and Satellite Research Group<\/a> (RSSRG) in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the new optical system, known as MarONet (Marine Optical Network), deployed near WA\u2019s Rottnest Island will play a critical role in verifying – or \u2018ground-truthing\u2019 – PACE\u2019s satellite observations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe typically think of the ocean\u2019s colour as blue, but in many places, it looks blue-green because those areas are teeming with single-celled plants called phytoplankton, which contain chlorophyll and absorb the blue light,\u201d Professor Antoine said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPhytoplankton are tiny plants that, in addition to being a vital food source for all marine life, collectively produce more than half of the world\u2019s oxygen and absorb almost as much carbon dioxide as all the trees and land plants on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBy measuring the colour of the ocean with both satellites and sea-based sensors, we can study the enormous impact phytoplankton have on our climate and the potential of this tiny plant to help combat climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSensors on the buoy capture and analyse colours within sunlight reflected from the ocean to measure algae levels. This data is sent to shore via the mobile network, where it then helps fine-tune the satellite sensors for more accurate ocean monitoring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n