+ Visit NASA.gov + Advanced Search   + About the Server   + Animation List   + How to Use the Server   + RSS Feeds Previous Animation Next Animation Biosphere Data Across the United States Western Seaboard 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.    This animation begins with a wide shot of the United States and zooms down to the Western seaboard of the United States while cycling through nearly ten years of SeaWiFS biosphere data. Duration: 2.7 minutes Available formats:   1280x720 (30 fps) MPEG-4   124 MB   1280x720 (30 fps) MPEG-2   335 MB   512x288 (30 fps) MPEG-1   53 MB   1280x720 (30 fps) Frames (Western Seaboard Biosphere)   1280x720 (60 fps) Frames (Western Seaboard Biosphere)   320x180     PNG           246 KB   160x80       PNG           59 KB   80x40         PNG           15 KB How to play our movies    This animation begins with the wide shot of the United States and zooms down to the Western seaboard while cycling through nearly ten years of SeaWiFS biosphere data. This version is annotated with corresponding dates. Duration: 1.8 minutes Available formats:   1280x720 (30 fps) MPEG-4   83 MB   1280x720 (30 fps) MPEG-2   223 MB   512x288 (30 fps) MPEG-1   35 MB   1280x720 (30 fps) Frames (Western Seaboard Biosphere with dates)   1280x720 (60 fps) Frames (Western Seaboard Biosphere with dates)   320x180     PNG           252 KB How to play our movies Animation Number: 3517 Animator: Alex Kekesi (SVS) (Lead) Completed: 2008-05-29 Producers: Laura Motel (UMBC)   Maria Frostic (UMBC) Scientist: Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC) Instrument: SeaStar/SeaWiFS Data sets: Biosphere   SeaWiFS   SeaWiFS Biosphere Data Collected: 09/23/1997 - 9/20/2006 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     Please give credit for this item to NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, The SeaWiFS Project and ORBIMAGE, 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 ORBIMAGE (http://www.orbimage.com). Back to Top + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Reproduction Guidelines NASA Official: Content Contact: Curator: