How satellites and oceanographers track the planet's hidden carbon cycle

Space · Published 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The ocean is a vast, mysterious frontier that dictates the health of our atmosphere. To decode its secrets, scientists combine high-tech satellite imagery with grueling expeditions on research vessels. Together, they map how life beneath the waves interacts with our changing planet.

Oceanographers like Ivona Cetinic and James Fox work to understand the complex relationship between the ocean, the atmosphere, and global life. A primary focus of this research is the ocean's carbon cycle—the process by which the sea absorbs, stores, and releases carbon. This cycle is critical for regulating the Earth's climate and understanding how the planet responds to environmental shifts. This research helps clarify how the ocean interacts with the atmosphere and our changing planet. Scientists aim to understand the fascinating unknowns of these systems. They seek to better comprehend how the vast sea influences life on Earth.

To gather this data, researchers use a multi-layered approach. They conduct long ocean journeys on research vessels to collect in-situ data, such as particle imagery of 'marine snow' during the North Atlantic spring bloom. These expeditions allow for the assessment of marine snow dynamics. Researchers also use high spectral resolution lidar to measure particulate backscatter. Such tools help evaluate satellite ocean color retrievals.

Simultaneously, they utilize satellite technology, including the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem) mission, to monitor global ocean phytoplankton and chlorophyll concentrations from space. This work is not just about observation; it is about identifying anomalies. For instance, researchers have studied how extreme events, such as the 2016 El Niño heatwave or the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruptions, impact carbon export and ocean concentrations. By combining remote sensing with field campaigns, scientists can better predict how biological carbon export will evolve in a changing world. The PACE mission specifically addresses requirements and challenges for quantifying phytoplankton composition. Scientists also use hyperspectral ocean reflectance to identify pigment-based communities. These efforts help evaluate fluorometrically-derived chlorophyll a as a validation product.

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