Question

Why are there so many songs about rainbows? For NASA’s upcoming Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission, or PACE, the colors of the rainbow — or, if you prefer, the visible wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum — are the key to unlocking a wealth of new data on skies and seas around the world. PACE’s high-resolution instruments will see ocean and atmosphere features in unparalleled detail when the mission launches in 2023. By measuring the intensity of the color that exits Earth’s ocean surface, PACE will capture fine details about phytoplankton — tiny plantlike organisms and algae that live in the ocean — that are the basis of the marine food web and generate half of Earth’s oxygen. Beneficial phytoplankton communities fuel fisheries, but harmful algal blooms (HABs) can poison animals and humans and disrupt tourism and fishing industries. . . Understanding phytoplankton health can help predict harmful algal blooms, or HABs. When substances from land wash into the ocean, they sometimes become a feast for algae, allowing them to eat, grow and multiply rapidly. HABs can generate harmful toxins that sicken marine wildlife and humans and deplete oxygen in the water as bacteria feed on numerous dead algae. “Harmful algal blooms are not recent. We have writings from indigenous tribes in the Pacific Northwest that talk about things happening on the beach,” said Cetinić. “It’s just that today we’re looking for it more, and also anthropogenic influences are making blooms more prevalent.” Based on the information in the article, make a logical inference about the significance of PACE and its study of phytoplankton populations. In 3–5 sentences, provide specific evidence from the text to support your inference and explain why your reasoning is logical and valid.

Answer 1

The significance of NASA's PACE mission lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of ocean ecosystems, particularly through the study of phytoplankton populations. By utilizing high-resolution instruments to measure the reflected light from the ocean's surface, PACE aims to gather detailed data on phytoplankton, which are critical for the marine food web and contribute significantly to Earth's oxygen production. The article states that “Understanding phytoplankton health can help predict harmful algal blooms, or HABs," indicating that PACE's research could aid in preventing the negative impacts associated with HABs, such as toxicity to marine life and disruption to fisheries. Furthermore, the mention of “anthropogenic influences” increasing the prevalence of HABs suggests that monitoring these populations is crucial in the context of environmental change, making PACE's mission highly relevant and valid for addressing contemporary ecological challenges.