+ Visit NASA.gov + Advanced Search   + About the Server   + Animation List   + How to Use the Server   + RSS Feeds Previous Animation Next Animation Cold Water Upwelling Promotes Phytoplankton Blooms Carbon is the root of all life on Earth, and as it circulates through our biosphere, the Earth's state of health responds. Whenever the size of phytoplankton colonies in the ocean changes, it affects the amount of carbon absorbed from the atmosphere. These blooms are highly dependent on surrounding environmental conditions. As a hurricane passes over the tropical waters of the Atlantic, it draws up cold water from deep below the warmer surface. As the cooler water rises, it brings with it phytoplankton and nutrients necessary for life. These microscopic plants then bloom in higher than average amounts. Bigger storms cause larger plankton blooms and more plankton absorb a greater amount of carbon from our atmosphere. Scientists are still trying to determine how much carbon dioxide might be removed by such a process.    This is the standard definition version of the Cold Water Upwelling Promotes Phytoplankton Blooms animation MPEG. Duration: 20.0 seconds Available formats:   320x240 (30 fps) MPEG-1   2 MB   150x112     JPEG         3 KB   75x56         JPEG         1 KB   320x240     JPEG         8 KB   720x486     Frames   720x480 (29.97 fps) MPEG-2   11 MB   640x480 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   7 MB How to play our movies Animation Number: 10030 Animator: Susan Twardy (Lead) Studio: NASA Completed: 2004-06-11 Scientist: Steven Babin (JHU/APL) Writer: Elizabeth A. Smith (HTSI) Goddard TV Tape: G2004-029 Keywords: SVS >> Byrne SVS >> Earth Science SVS >> Gonnelli SVS >> Hurricane SVS >> Phytoplankton SVS >> Phytoplankton Blooms     Please give credit for this item to NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab Back to Top + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Reproduction Guidelines NASA Official: Content Contact: Curator: