Earth  ID: 10331

In The Zone

Released on October 15, 2008
Earth's oceans are wide reaching and teeming with life. One microscopic aquatic organism plays a major role in making life on Earth possible: phytoplankton. Under certain conditions, excessive phytoplankton growth can result in an area known as a dead zone. Dead zones form when big blooms of phytoplankton at the surface trigger large quantities of organic matter, which then sink to the bottom. Bacteria break down the organic material, releasing carbon dioxide but absorbing oxygen as they work. Most marine organisms need oxygen for survival and dead zones prove fatal for many aquatic species. This short web video features dynamic animations, science data visualizations, and interview excerpts with a NASA oceanographer to explore this fascinating marine phenomenon.
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This short web video features dynamic animations, science data visualizations, and excerpts with a NASA oceanographer to explore the fascinating phenomenon of ocean dead zones.

For complete transcript, click here.

For More Information

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2008/dead_zones.html

Credits

Alex Kekesi (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Animator
Susan Twardy (HTSI): Animator
Rich Melnick (HTSI): Video Editor
Laura Motel (UMBC): Narrator
Maria Frostic (UMBC): Producer
Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Chris Smith (UMBC): Videographer
Maria Frostic (UMBC): Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, The SeaWiFS Project and GeoEye. NOTE: All SeaWiFS images and data presented on this web site are for research and educational use only. All commercial use of SeaWiFS data must be coordinated with GeoEye (NOTE: In January 2013, DigitalGlobe and GeoEye combined to become DigitalGlobe).

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10331

Data Used:
SeaStar/SeaWiFS
NOTE: All SeaWiFS images and data presented on this web site are for research and educational use only. All commercial use of SeaWiFS data must be coordinated with GeoEye
Credit:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, The SeaWiFS Project and GeoEye, Scientific Visualization Studio. NOTE: All SeaWiFS images and data presented on this web site are for research and educational use only. All commercial use of SeaWiFS data must be coordinated with GeoEye (NOTE: In January 2013, DigitalGlobe and GeoEye combined to become one DigitalGlobe.).
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Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

This item is part of these series:
Narrated Movies
Goddard Shorts

Goddard TV Tape:
G2008-090 -- Dead Zones: A Real Horror Story for Marine Life

Keywords:
SVS >> Phytoplankton
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Marine Biology
SVS >> Edited Feature
SVS >> Podcast
SVS >> Dead zone
DLESE >> Narrated
SVS >> Voice Over Talent
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0