Earth
ID: 3938
The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the SeaStar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. 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. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea and along the Western seaboard of the United States. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land. The nutrient-rich waters contribute to some of the oxygen-poor pockets of the seas called dead zones.
Biosphere Data 2000 through 2004
Animation depicting nearly four years worth of SeaWiFS ocean chlorophyll concentration and Next Generation BlueMarble land.
This is a match framed animation as the above frame set, except this frame set has a plain blue ocean without the chlorophyll.
Visualization Credits
Lori Perkins (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
Michael Starobin (HTSI): Producer
Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Norman Kuring (NASA/GSFC): Project Support
Michael Starobin (HTSI): Producer
Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Norman Kuring (NASA/GSFC): Project Support
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 (NOTE: In January 2013, DigitalGlobe and GeoEye combined to become DigitalGlobe).
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 DigitalGlobe).
Short URL to share this page:
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3938
Data Used:
SeaStar/SeaWiFS/Global Biosphere 1/1/2000 - 12/31/2004
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.
Dates of Data Used:
01/1/2000 - 12/31/2004
This item is part of this series:
SeaWiFS Biosphere
Keywords:
DLESE >> Biology
SVS >> HDTV
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere >> Microbiota Taxonomy >> Phytoplankton
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere >> Plant Taxonomy >> Phytoplankton
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Hydrosphere >> Water Quality/Water Chemistry >> Oxygen
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Ocean Circulation >> Ocean Currents
GCMD >> Location >> Pacific Ocean
SVS >> Climate Change
SVS >> For Educators
SVS >> Oceanic Food Web
SVS >> Oceans >> Seaboard
SVS >> Oceans >> Plant Life
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
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3938
Data Used:
SeaStar/SeaWiFS/Global Biosphere 1/1/2000 - 12/31/2004
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.
Dates of Data Used:
01/1/2000 - 12/31/2004
This item is part of this series:
SeaWiFS Biosphere
Keywords:
DLESE >> Biology
SVS >> HDTV
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere >> Microbiota Taxonomy >> Phytoplankton
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere >> Plant Taxonomy >> Phytoplankton
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Hydrosphere >> Water Quality/Water Chemistry >> Oxygen
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Ocean Circulation >> Ocean Currents
GCMD >> Location >> Pacific Ocean
SVS >> Climate Change
SVS >> For Educators
SVS >> Oceanic Food Web
SVS >> Oceans >> Seaboard
SVS >> Oceans >> Plant Life
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
