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MODIS Sea Surface Temperature Highlighting the Gulf Stream (2002 to 2006)
A recent study indicates a correlation between ocean nutrients and changes sea surface temperature (SST). The results show that when SSTs warm, marine plant life in the form of microscopic phytoplankton declines. Similarly, when SSTs cool, marine plant life seems to flourish. Changes in phytoplankton growth influence fishery yields and the amount of carbon dioxide the oceans remove from the atmosphere. This could have major implications on the future of our ocean's food web and how it relates to climate change.

The temperature data in this visualization comes from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua spacecraft.


This animation shows a 32-day moving average of SST data spanning July 4, 2002 to October 23, 2006. The animation starts over Europe, pans across the Atlantic, and settles in over the Gulf Stream.    This animation shows a 32-day moving average of SST data spanning July 4, 2002 to October 23, 2006. The animation starts over Europe, pans across the Atlantic, and settles in over the Gulf Stream.
Duration: 24.0 seconds
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Sea Surface Temperature in Degrees Celsius. 		   Sea Surface Temperature in Degrees Celsius.

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  320 x 90           PNG         9 KB


The Gulf Stream reflected in SST data. This data is an average from September 22, 2006 to October 23, 2006.    The Gulf Stream reflected in SST data. This data is an average from September 22, 2006 to October 23, 2006.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF 5 MB
  320 x 240         PNG       94 KB

Animation Number:3389
Completed:2006-11-22
Animators:Alex Kekesi (GST) (Lead)
 Stuart A. Snodgrass (GST)
 Lori Perkins (NASA/GSFC)
Scientist:Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC)
Platforms/Sensors/Data Sets:Aqua/MODIS
 Terra/MODIS
 SeaStar/SeaWiFS/Sea Surface Temperature
Data Collected:07/04/2002 - 10/23/2006
Series:Ocean Productivity
Goddard TV Tape:G2007-001HD -- NASA's HD Climate Change Resource Tape
Keywords:
DLESE >> Biology
DLESE >> Ecology
SVS >> HDTV
DLESE >> Physical oceanography
GCMD >> EARTH SCIENCE >> Biosphere
GCMD >> EARTH SCIENCE >> Climate Indicators
GCMD >> EARTH SCIENCE >> Biosphere >> Ecological Dynamics >> Food-web Dynamics
More Information on this topic available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/warm_marine.html
Science paper:'Climate-Driven Trends in Contemporary Ocean Productivity', Nature, Dec. 7
 
 
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, The SeaWiFS Project and GeoEye, 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 GeoEye (http://www.geoeye.com).

Data provided by: Norman Kuring (NASA/GSFC)


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