Small ocean swirls may have an outsized affect on climate, NASA satellite shows
Summary
A recent study using data from NASA’s Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite reveals that small-scale ocean swirls and eddies play a far larger role in influencing Earth’s climate than scientists previously thought. While understanding the oceans has been challenging due to their vastness, SWOT has made it possible to measure these small dynamics effectively, helping to predict their impacts on climate.
Key Points
- NASA’s SWOT satellite can observe ocean features between 1 to 100 kilometres, providing detailed data on swirls and eddies.
- This new capability allows scientists to analyse how these small-scale features influence heat, carbon, and nutrient transport in the ocean.
- Elisa Carli from the European Space Agency highlights that the findings mark a shift in oceanography, emphasising the importance of these dynamics to Earth’s climate system.
- The satellite’s global coverage helps clarify the previously underestimated impacts of small-scale ocean processes.
- Further research collaborations are encouraged to explore these dynamics more thoroughly, as political budget cuts pose a risk to ongoing studies.
Why should I read this?
This article uncovers exciting new insights into how tiny ocean swirls could be major players in the climate game, thanks to cutting-edge satellite tech. If you’re into climate science or just curious about how the ocean influences our weather, this is definitely worth a read. It’s all about making sense of the little things that could have a big impact!