Like land plants, phytoplankton growth depends on the availability of sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients. Phytoplankton are found where each of these factors are abundant. Phytoplankton live in the surface waters of the ocean, where there is usually ample light for phytoplankton to grow in the surface waters and carbon dioxide dissolved in oceans is freely available. Like land plants, phytoplankton have chlorophyll to capture sunlight, and they use photosynthesis to turn it into chemical energy (food).
Review this mapped plot of the historic Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations of key locations around the world for the period of 1998-2018. Also, consider using the Map Cube to help students with deeper dives into data analysis. Credit: NASA, NOAA
Observe the seasonal global images of the chlorophyll data from 2017 and put in chronological order.
Students review the NASA video showing biosphere data over the North Atlantic Ocean as a time series animation displaying a decade of phytoplankton blooms and answer questions that follow.
These six graphs show Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations from 1998 - 2018 in a variety of locations: East Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, California Coast, Southeastern US/Gulf of Mexico, Northeastern US and the Scotian Shelf, and the Hawaiian Islands.
Analyze these satellite images comparing Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations with Sea Surface Temperatures beginning with the North Atlantic region, then expanding global patterns of these phenomena. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
Review this mapped plot of the historic Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations of key locations around the world for the period of 1998-2018. Also, consider using the Map Cube to help students with deeper dives into data analysis. Credit: NASA, NOAA
Observe the seasonal global images of the chlorophyll data from 2017 and put in chronological order.
Students review the NASA video showing biosphere data over the North Atlantic Ocean as a time series animation displaying a decade of phytoplankton blooms and answer questions that follow.
These six graphs show Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations from 1998 - 2018 in a variety of locations: East Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, California Coast, Southeastern US/Gulf of Mexico, Northeastern US and the Scotian Shelf, and the Hawaiian Islands.
Analyze these satellite images comparing Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations with Sea Surface Temperatures beginning with the North Atlantic region, then expanding global patterns of these phenomena. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
Scientific data are often represented by assigning ranges of numbers to specific colors. The colors are then used to make false color images which allow us to see patterns more easily.
Information from satellites if often used to display information about objects. This information can include how things appear, as well as their contents. Explore how pixel data sequences can be used to create an image and interpret it.
Review the animation showing seasonal chlorophyll concentration as it relates to net radiation.
In this mini lesson, students explore the relationship of chlorophyll and solar radiation by analyzing line graphs from the North Atlantic during 2016-2018.
