Photosynthesis is a complex process that involves light reactions with chorophyll that splits water into its components. Carbon dioxide is then reduced to carbohydrates. Cellular processes help carbohydrates to build macromolecules. Evidence from their experiments shows that increased temperature affects grazing by altering the maximum ration available to the zooplankton for consumption. Phytoplankton surviving warming temperatures and periods of heavy grazing are probably able to respond fairly quickly to extreme conditions.
Phytoplankton serve as condensation nuclei for cloud formation.
Condensation nuclei means the presence of particles in the atmosphere which provide surfaces for condensation. There are fewer condensation nuclei over the ocean than land. Clouds reflect the solar energy and lower the Earth's temperature. The problem with this idea is that ice cores from the Arctic and the Antarctic provide contradictory evidence. Scientists have come up with various explanations for why this experiment does not fit the theory from different ecologies favoring algal species that produce more DMS, changes in atmospheric circulation influencing the amount of aerosol material deposited, to an increase of salinity of the oceans.