By understanding the magnitude of the huge plankton bloom, scientists were able to calculate how changes in biologic activity caused massive changes in carbon dioxide. The deep ocean waters normally release large amounts of carbon dioxide. This animation shows how the tiny plants can lock up carbon when they die. The sequence shows a superposition of sea surface temperature anomalies on anomalies of the sea surface elevation. Warmer than normal temperatures are shown in red and cooler than normal temperatures are shown in blue.
Plankton are lowest rungs on the oceanic food chain.
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