On October 13, 2024, NASA announced that its recently launched satellite, the Plankton, Aerosols, Clouds, and Ocean Ecosystems (PACE), has detected an increase in marine heatwaves in the Pacific Ocean, lasting two to three months. These heatwaves are negatively impacting marine ecosystems that cannot migrate to cooler waters.
During the 26th International Ocean Optics Congress, Laura Lorenzoni, the director of marine biology and biogeochemistry at NASA, emphasized the significance of PACE's ability to capture 256 colors of the ocean, providing a clearer understanding of ocean health and climate change effects.
Violeta Sanjuan, a senior scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, highlighted that PACE can observe a wider range of colors than previous satellites, allowing for enhanced monitoring of phytoplankton communities in the water. This advancement aids in tracking daily changes in marine species.
The data obtained from PACE is crucial for understanding the health of the ocean, as it provides insights into both floating and dissolved materials in the water, reflecting broader environmental changes.