Phytoplankton to Weather Patterns

NPR: Depletion of Phytoplankton (28-7-10)

Though I am admittedly not an expert on these topics, my inquiries have led me to post this interesting, but potentially misleading post. However, these ideas are noteworthy and I ask you to take them with a critical perspective. The attached article, originally swiped from the latest issue of Nature,  talks about how phytoplankton are depleting in the upper layers of 8 of 10 oceans as a direct result of global warming (regardless if it's human caused or not). Though scientists do not fully comprehend the longevity of this particular trend, the phenomenon has caused a drastic decrease of oxegen in our atmosphere (40 percent-- eek!). Don't be scared though, because this is where it gets cool, at least in regards to thinking about how everything is infinitely interconnected. One type of phytoplakton, known as coccolithophores, release a significant amount of dimethyl sulfide, which converts to sulfate. Consequently, the sulfate contributes to cloud condensation nuclei, and, you guessed it, overall cloud cover in our atmosphere. Does this contribute to cooling the whole planet off? Well, yes... and... no! Yes because during the day, cloud cover lowers solar radiation decreasing overall ground temperture. This, however, does not affect each geographical region the same. Some are hotter than others, which may depend on wind patterns, solar flares, various topological influences, etc. This is why, for example, the aggregate world temp is the hottest ever recorded, while spain's average temperture is the coldest in 13 years. Hmmm.... bet you didnt know that, eh? Anyways, the no part: during night the earth naturally cools. This is most prominent when there are no clouds, because long wave radiation, which the earth is giving off, is typically trapped by clouds while not being substituted by the short term waves from the sun. This ends up dramatizing the capping inversion phenomenon from happening in our upper atmosphere and making the ground as well as the air above it colder. That influences weather patterns through out the extent of the day, mainly by determining when and if we will get rain during humid months. This, of course, is a dramatic simplification of meteorological principles, but that is neither my forte nor my intention in posting this. So waht is the point? Phytoplankton, something you can see and certainly don't care at all about, may decide your fate to a large degree. They definetely influence your day, like whether it will rain or not, but also seem to play a huge part in every single breath you take. So take a deep one, but not too deep, because every little thing in this world might change something else, ad infinitum. Next time, I might tell you how ants would be my vote for most likely creature to take over the world.