Ocean Planet Pole To Pole
Explanation:
The Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) instrument onboard
the orbiting SeaStar spacecraft can map subtle differences in
Earth's ocean color.
These North (left) and South Pole projections are based on
SeaWiFS measurements made between September 1997 and July 1998.
The "color" strongly depends on how sunlight is reflected by
free-floating phytoplankton -
photosynthesizing organisms which
contain chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll absorbs blue and red light and reflects green.
Since
the tiny phytoplankton are tremendously important,
forming the beginning of the food chain
for sea life,
SeaWiFS color maps can help
track the activity of
ocean planet Earth's biosphere.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
