Marine Deserts On The Move

  • Released Thursday, January 27, 2011
  • Updated Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 11:52AM
  • ID: 10704

Thirteen years of data show marine deserts (dark blue) in warm water, a bounty of life (light green) in cool water, and abundant life (red) near coasts.

Thirteen years of data show marine deserts (dark blue) in warm water, a bounty of life (light green) in cool water, and abundant life (red) near coasts.

Phytoplankton struggles to survive in vast marine deserts (dark blue) that are caused by a lack of cool, nutrient-rich water at the surface.

Phytoplankton struggles to survive in vast marine deserts (dark blue) that are caused by a lack of cool, nutrient-rich water at the surface.

River outflows send nutrients seaward generating explosive growth of phytoplankton (orange, red) near the coast of California.

River outflows send nutrients seaward generating explosive growth of phytoplankton (orange, red) near the coast of California.

Notice the plankton (red, yellow, green) along the coastline and the sparse life (blue) along the northern edge of the Gulf Stream.

Notice the plankton (red, yellow, green) along the coastline and the sparse life (blue) along the northern edge of the Gulf Stream.

Plant life in the sea (light green) and on land (dark green) varies over ten years as environmental conditions change with the seasons.

For 13 years, SeaWiFS measured plant life on land and sea.

Satellite observations show where plants thrive—or struggle to survive—on land and sea.

Satellite observations show where plants thrive—or struggle to survive—on land and sea.



Credits

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).



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