PlanktoSpace

Plankton, microscopic organisms found in every litre of seawater, underpin marine ecosystems and play a critical role in global biogeochemical cycles, including the ocean’s biological carbon pump. Despite their importance, observing plankton diversity at a global scale remains challenging, with current satellite data unable to directly capture the full complexity of marine life.

PlanktoSpace addresses this gap by generating a large, consistent global dataset that directly links in situ plankton biodiversity measurements with satellite ocean colour data. The project uses innovative, cost‑effective sampling approaches, equipping a fleet of sailing vessels (“ships of opportunity”) with tools to collect plankton samples for DNA sequencing and imaging analyses

These coordinated measurements are timed to coincide with satellite overpasses, ensuring high‑quality “matchups” between field observations and Earth Observation data. Over time, this approach will deliver a unique dataset spanning a wide range of ocean conditions across the globe.

Using this dataset, PlanktoSpace applies advanced machine‑learning techniques to link satellite signals with plankton biodiversity. The goal is to enable the prediction of marine ecosystem composition from space, providing a step change in our ability to monitor ocean health at global scale.

By combining citizen‑science sampling, cutting‑edge molecular techniques and satellite Earth Observation, PlanktoSpace is helping to unlock new ways of observing the ocean’s “invisible life”, supporting research into climate change, ocean ecosystems, and the global carbon cycle.