Layer Abstract

A recent study indicates there is a correlation between ocean nutrients and changes in sea surface temperature (SST). The results show that when ocean water warms, marine plant life in the form of microscopic phytoplankton tend to decline. When water cools, plant life flourishes. Changes in phytoplankton growth influence fishery yields and the amount of carbon dioxide the oceans remove from the atmosphere. This could have major implications on the future of our ocean's food web and how it relates to climate change.

The temperature data in this visualization comes from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua spacecraft.

In order to see the correlation between SST and SeaWiFS data, this animation can be compared to the latter part of the animation called 'SeaWiFS Biosphere from 1997 to 2006'. Please <a href='http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003300/a003387/index.html'>click here</a> to see this other animation.

Additional Credit:
B>Please give credit for this item to:</b><br /> Data provided by: Norman Kuring (NASA/GSFC)

Server Abstract

Web Map Server maintained by the Scientific Visualization Studio at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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