The ocean in bloom

[MotherBear]

Satellite captures ocean in bloom

Thursday October 5, 2006



Chlorophyll levels in water around New Zealand can be seen in this image taken from Nasa's Aqua satellite. Phytoplankton, single-cell ocean plants at the start of the food chain for many fish, contain chlorophyll to harness the sun's energy for photosynthesis.

The image was captured on September 26, using moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer. In large amounts, chlorophyll creates colourful patterns on the surface of the ocean. In this picture, the amount of chlorophyll is colour-coded dark blue (little or no chlorophyll) through to yellow.

Phytoplankton growth is high around coastal areas so chlorophyll levels are also high. Nasa has been mapping chlorophyll levels in the ocean to help shed light on when and where phytoplankton blooms, and why.

- NZ Herald

One has to wonder why so much money is invested in such a mission? Is there a reason why anyone would want to know about it? Is it dangerous?

Oh naive me and the ways of the sea....

[selchie]

I suppose that because phytoplankton is such an important food source in the oceans, that they'd want to monitor the blooms. Thus we could get warnings about crashes in the oceanic food chain, and panic. That, or the US is sure that Osama bin Laden is hiding in a phytoplankton bloom, and is recruiting disaffected marine mammals to his cause.

Unfortunately, the Aqua photo wasn't showing when I came to this thread. I suppose I'll have to check on NASA's website for it.

...(later)... Ooh, pretty swirlies. Here's a link for more Aqua images of NZ: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_se...ategoryID=2234

[selchie]

Here are some more satellite images, this time from an exhibit from the Smithsonian institution. In "The Living Planet" section, there's a photo (#4) of Mt. Taranaki. http://www.earthfromspace.si.edu/online_exhibition.asp

[Dawn]

One has to wonder why so much money is invested in such a mission? ?Is there a reason why anyone would want to know about it? ?Is it dangerous?

Oh naive me and the ways of the sea....

Taffy, taffy, taffy!! Did you know that crill (don't know if that's how you spell it), that tiny stuff that whales eat tonnes of, is rresponsible for producing three quarters of the worlds oxygen???? And the more fertile the seas, the more crill and stuff. Now do you see why lots of money has to be invested? It's not all about what's going on with us two legged, self-important, arrogant humanoids you know. Although, of course, most of us think it is!!! ;)

Very true, Dawn. But really, if people are monitoring it because of that, then that would also make it humanoid self interest - after all, air means staying alive!

[Dawn]

But it also means that lots of other living things are surviving as well and that the oceans are at least sustaining the life that inhabits them. It's important to know that nature is doing what it should be doing so that we can recognise when it doesn't. It's an indication of how well the world is isn't it?

Sigh.....we so trash our beautiful world......it makes me sad :'(