Taken as a whole these particles tend to cool Earth's atmosphere, and are an important factor in global change. The study of clouds, where they occur, and their characteristics, play a key role in the understanding of climate change. Whether a given cloud will heat or cool the surface of the Earth depends on several factors. Polar Ice Polar ice consists of sea ice formed from the freezing of sea water, and ice sheets and glaciers formed from the accumulation and compaction of falling snow. Every three to seven years during the months of December and January, fish in the coastal waters off of South America virtually vanish, causing the fishing business to come to a standstill.
Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that are the foundation of the marine food chain.
Because they also exert a global-scale influence on climate, phytoplankton are of primary interest to oceanographers and Earth scientists around the world. Coccolithophores are one-celled plants that live in large numbers throughout the upper layers of the ocean. Biomass Burning Biomass burning is the burning of living and dead vegetation, including both human-initiated burning for land clearing, and burning induced by lightning and other natural sources. Researchers with the Biomass Burning Project at NASA Langley Research Center are seeking to understand the impact that biomass burning has on the Earth's atmosphere and climate. Global Fire Monitoring Forest fires, brush fires, and slash and burn agriculture are a significant force for environmental change.