Gulf of Mexico Seagrass Under Threat
Rapid sea level rise in the Gulf of Mexico, driven by warming waters and unique wind patterns, is threatening vital seagrass habitats in Texas, according to a study by the University of Texas at Austin. After analysing a 30-year database, the researchers observed a decline in seagrasses that correlated closely with rising sea levels. Seagrasses, which could potentially offset carbon emissions by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offer a nature-based solution to climate change mitigation.
This image was acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 25 February and shows the Padre Island National Seashore, one of the threatened sites.
The data provided by the Sentinel satellites and the Copernicus Marine Service allows for accurate and frequent monitoring and forecasting of coastal water quality, enabling informed decision-making to ensure the health and sustainability of marine ecosystems and coastal environments.
![Download [WEBP, 1.19 MB]](https://eu-space.europa.eu/sites/default/files/images/iotd/20240306_PadreIsland.webp){kind=link}