A new study has found a clear connection between increasing sea-surface temperatures and a lack of essential nutrients for marine microorganisms around the world.

一項新研究發現，全球海面溫度上升與海洋微生物缺乏必需營養素之間存在明顯的關聯。

The research, published in Science Advances, used twenty years of satellite data from NASA and genetic analysis of a specific microbe called Prochlorococcus. By analyzing the ratio of carbon to chlorophyll, researchers could determine nutrient stress levels. The data show that as surface waters warm, they create a light layer that prevents cold, nutrient-rich water from rising from the deep ocean. This process, known as stratification, is most common in subtropical areas, with the South Pacific facing serious shortages of nitrogen and iron.

這項發表於《Science Advances》的研究，使用了 NASA 二十年的衛星數據，並對一種名為原綠球藻 (Prochlorococcus) 的特定微生物進行基因分析。研究人員透過分析碳與葉綠素的比例，得以確定營養壓力的水平。數據顯示，隨著表面海水變暖，會形成一層輕的水層，阻礙深海中寒冷且營養豐富的水上升。這個過程被稱為「分層現象」，在亞熱帶地區最為常見，其中南太平洋面臨嚴重的氮與鐵短缺問題。

However, different regions responded in various ways. In the North Atlantic, phytoplankton managed phosphorus shortages by recycling the nutrient or using alternative molecules. In contrast, nitrogen deficiency was more harmful because nitrogen is essential for photosynthesis. Furthermore, while nutrient stress often follows weather patterns like El Niño, there is a clear long-term trend from 2002 to 2021 showing that warming temperatures in 90% of the studied areas have led to increased nutrient stress.

然而，不同地區的反應各異。在北大西洋，浮游植物透過回收營養素或使用替代分子來應對磷短缺。相反地，氮缺乏的危害較大，因為氮對光合作用至關重要。此外，儘管營養壓力通常隨聖嬰現象 (El Niño) 等天氣模式而波動，但 2002 年至 2021 年間存在明顯的長期趨勢，顯示 90% 的研究區域因溫度升高而導致營養壓力增加。

Interestingly, some areas in the Southern Hemisphere did not show as much stress as expected. Researchers believe that certain nitrogen-fixing microbes may act as a biological shield, helping the ecosystem survive despite the lack of water mixing. This suggests that some marine environments are more resilient than current scientific models predict.

有趣的是，南半球部分地區顯示的壓力不如預期中那麼大。研究人員認為，某些固氮微生物可能扮演了「生物盾牌」的角色，幫助生態系統在水層缺乏混合的情況下生存。這表明某些海洋環境的韌性比目前的科學模型預測的更高。

By combining satellite technology and genetic markers, scientists now have a way to monitor how marine life responds to global warming in real-time.

透過結合衛星技術與基因標記，科學家現在有一種方法可以即時監測海洋生物如何應對全球暖化。