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SeaWiFS Captures Three Years of the Carbon Cycle
By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon.

Until now, scientists have only had a continuous record of photosynthesis on land. But following three years of continual data collected by the SeaWiFS instrument, NASA has gathered the first record of photosynthetic productivity in the oceans. By taking three years of continuous data as a whole, experts have been able to map trends and anomalies in the global circulation of carbon to a degree of detail than has never been done before. It is a baseline measurement to by which all future measurements will be compared.


The SeaWiFS instrument looks at the world oceans and land to observe the plant life and phytoplankton, here we see a connection with the cycle of the ocean and land with the cycle of Carbon in the atmosphere.    The SeaWiFS instrument looks at the world oceans and land to observe the plant life and phytoplankton, here we see a connection with the cycle of the ocean and land with the cycle of Carbon in the atmosphere.
Duration: 34.0 seconds
Available formats:
  320x240 (30 fps) MPEG-1   4 MB
  320x266     JPEG         6 KB
  160x80       PNG           16 KB
  80x40         PNG           4 KB
  320x240 (30 fps) X-FLV       1 MB
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This image shows a CO2 graph overlayed on the Earth, giving a timescale, from 1000 years to the year 2000.    This image shows a CO2 graph overlayed on the Earth, giving a timescale, from 1000 years to the year 2000.

Available formats:
  2880 x 1944     TIFF 1 MB
  320 x 216         JPEG     11 KB


This image is showing the last 50 years, when the Industry age of the 20th century took off.    This image is showing the last 50 years, when the Industry age of the 20th century took off.

Available formats:
  2880 x 1944     TIFF 1 MB
  320 x 216         JPEG     12 KB


This image with graph shows the past 3 years overlayed a seawifs Biosphere.    This image with graph shows the past 3 years overlayed a seawifs Biosphere.

Available formats:
  2880 x 1944     TIFF 3 MB
  320 x 216         JPEG     18 KB


This image shows the graph in red with the SeaWiFS biosphere behind it. Which shows the growth of CO2.    This image shows the graph in red with the SeaWiFS biosphere behind it. Which shows the growth of CO2.

Available formats:
  2880 x 1944     TIFF 3 MB
  320 x 216         JPEG     17 KB


This image is the middle of the animation, which shows the growth of CO2.    This image is the middle of the animation, which shows the growth of CO2.

Available formats:
  2880 x 1944     TIFF 3 MB
  320 x 216         JPEG     18 KB

Animation Number:2085
Completed:2001-03-25
Animators:Stuart A. Snodgrass (GST) (Lead)
 Marte Newcombe (GST)
Scientist:Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC)
Platform/Sensor/Data Set:SeaStar/SeaWiFS (1997/09/20 - 2000/09/20)
Series:SeaWiFS Biosphere
Video:SVS2001-0008 *
Keywords:
DLESE >> Biological oceanography
SVS >> Biosphere
SVS >> Carbon Cycle
DLESE >> Physical oceanography
More Information on this topic available at:
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20010327colors_of_life.html
 
 
Please give credit for this item to:
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 (http://www.geoeye.com).


*Please note: the SVS does not fulfill requests for copies of the tapes in our library. On some of our animation pages, there is a direct link to a video distribution service from which tapes, handled by the Public Affairs Office (PAO)/Goddard TV, including some of our animations may be ordered. General information on this service can be found here.


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