Biosphere Data Around the Gulf of Mexico
|
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 in and around the Gulf of Mexico. 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 Gulf of Mexico 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
282 MB
512x288 (30 fps)
MPEG-1
53 MB
1280x720 (30 fps)
Frames (Gulf of Mexico Biosphere)
1280x720 (60 fps)
Frames (Gulf of Mexico Biosphere)
320x180
PNG
245 KB
160x80
PNG
58 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 Gulf of Mexico 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
197 MB
512x288 (30 fps)
MPEG-1
35 MB
1280x720 (30 fps)
Frames (Gulf of Mexico Biosphere with dates)
1280x720 (60 fps)
Frames (Gulf of Mexico Biosphere with dates)
320x180
PNG
245 KB
How to play our movies
|
|
Back to Top
|