and assess human impacts on these living systems umons. Loastal dd codstal wetla
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and assess human impacts on these living systems umons. Loastal dd codstal wetlands wet lands form as mangrove swamps (p. 485) equatorward of A coral (p. 483) is a simple marine invertebrate that forms a hard, calcified, external skeleton. Over generations, cor the 30th parallel in each hemisphere and as salt marshes (p. 485) poleward of these parallels. lationship with algae: each is dependent on the other for survival. Changes in environmental conditions can cause e in large structures known as coral reefs 10. How are corals able to construct reefs and islands? rals live in a symbiotic (mutually helpful) re 11. Describe the differences between coastal wetlands that are poleward of 30 N and S latitude and those that are equatorward GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS Chlorophyll Concentrations in the Ocean Phytoplankton are tiny floating plants that underpin most marine food chains. The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) sensor on N SA's Aqua satellite measures phytoplankton abundance by monitoring the con- centration of chlorophyll, a green pigment that is essential for photosynthesis We discuss phytoplankton, food chains, and photosynthesis in C 4. Examine each month's map to see trends in chlorophyll concentration for the Northern Hemisphere in the Atlantic Ocean. How does the location of the peak chlorophyll change throughout the course of the year? Why does chlorophyll change in this way? Activities Go to the NASA Earth Observations at http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Click on "Ocean" and choose "Chlorophyll Concentration." Read Examine the Southern Hemisphere seasonal trend in chloro- phyll concentration (Southern Ocean, and South Pacific and outh Atlantic Oceans). During which months would you pre- both the "Basic" and "Intermediate" versions of the "About this dict a large phytoplankton population? dataset" description. 1. 2. 6. Chlorophyll concentrations are relatively high near the Equato- rial region for every month. What does this imply about nutri How is the chlorophyll concentration determined? ent availability in the Equatorial region? Why do scientists measure the chlorophyll concentration in the ocean? Under "Downloads" click on "3600 x 1800" to display a 0.1 degree resolution map for February. The image will open in a new 3. Why is chlorophyll important to Earth's climate system? windoW Be sure that "1 mo" (1 month) is selected under "View by date" 7. Notice that there are often high chlorophyll concentrations and select the most recent year that has twelve months of data The availability of sunlight and nutrients control phytoplankton population distribution. near coastlines. What is one plausible explanation for this occurrence?Explanation / Answer
1. Scientists use satellites to measure how much phytoplankton are growing in the ocean by observing the color of the light reflected from the shallow depths of the water. Phytoplankton contain a photosynthetic pigment called chlorophyll that lends them a greenish color. When phytoplankton grow in large numbers they make the ocean appear greenish. These maps made from satellite observations show where and how much phytoplankton were growing on a given day, or over a span of days. The black areas show where the satellite could not measure phytoplankton.Tiny plants called phytoplankton grow in the sunlit waters of the ocean's surface. Like all plants, phytoplankton contain chlorophyll, a pigment that transforms sunlight into energy the plant can use. This same pigment gives phytoplankton their greenish color. Chlorophyll absorbs most visible light but reflects some green and near-infrared light. By measuring what kind of light is absorbed and reflected, the MODIS sensor aboard NASA's Aqua satellite can measure chlorophyll concentrations in the ocean. Scientists use measures of chlorophyll concentration to determine the abundance of plants near the surface of the ocean.
2.Chlorophyll measurements give scientists valuable insights into the health of the ocean's environment. Most phytoplankton blooms are a sign of good health, such as the large blooms occurring every spring in the North Atlantic Ocean. Other blooms can point to problems developing in the ocean--such as harmful algal blooms. Even if the blooming plant itself is not harmful, as billions of phytoplankton die and decay over a span of days, they can rob the water of oxygen, creating "dead zones" where fish and other marine organisms cannot survive.
3.Chlorophyll concentration measurements are also important to scientists studying Earth's climate system. As phytoplankton grow, they take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat near the surface of the Earth. As carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, the Earth's temperature could rise. Conversely, larger and more frequent phytoplankton blooms could draw down more carbon dioxide into the ocean and help cool our planet. Knowing how many plants live on the surface of the ocean helps scientists estimate how much carbon dioxide the plants absorb. Thus, maps of chlorophyll concentration are helping scientists better understand the role that phytoplankton play in Earth's climate system.
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