“It’s really fascinating. They do so much, but we know so little.”

Dr. Alison Chase, an Oceanographer connected to Tara Ocean Foundation, has dedicated her life to researching phytoplankton, the primary producers of the ocean. Her work emphasizes the importance of collaboration between different sectors to preserve the ocean's health.

At the center of this story is phytoplankton. These tiny, microscopic plants that live in the ocean's surface waters, play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. They are the base of the ocean's food chain, providing food for larger marine animals. Without phytoplankton, the entire ocean's food web would collapse, resulting in a devastating impact on marine life, and ultimately, human life. These organisms are crucial for oxygen production on Earth. Through photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere, similar to the way trees produce oxygen on land. Their productivity also influences climate and weather patterns by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen, which helps to regulate the Earth's temperature. Therefore, the health and abundance of phytoplankton in aquatic environments are critical for maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and supporting the many organisms that depend on them for survival.

In the second episode of Why We Race, we share the story of how Dr. Chase races to learn and how the data collected aboard the Biotherm IMOCA can benefit the whole scientific community to improve research on the health of the ocean.

We believe that every step counts, and we are dedicated to doing what we can to help support scientific research.