Phytoplankton fuel ocean life by feeding other plankton, fish, and ultimately bigger creatures. This video explores the diversity of phytoplankton in the oceans and shows why these plant-like organisms play such a crucial role in life on Earth. In some of the images, color-filtering techniques were used to draw out the fine details in the water, but the features are real. See the full transcript on NASA Earth Observatory: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148661/feeding-the-sea | NASA Ear

Phytoplankton play a crucial role in ocean biology and climate. Understanding the natural processes that influence phytoplankton primary production, and how they are changing as the planet warms, is vital. A new study, using data from ESA's Climate Change Initiative, has produced a 20-year time-series of global primary production in the oceans – shedding new light on the ocean’s 'living carbon pump'. See https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Space_for_our_climate/Shedding_light_on