Satellites help scientists observe biological processes around the globe, such as the greening of terrestrial vegetation in the spring or blooms of aquatic organisms in the ocean.
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SeaWiFS Chlorophyll and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index: Projection View (3.9Mb, does not include audio)
SeaWiFS Chlorophyll and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index: Globe View (3.9Mb, does not include audio)
The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the OrbView-2 spacecraft has collected data that are revolutionizing our understanding of how our home planet lives and breathes. These animations show seasonal changes in the concentration of chlorophyll-bearing, photosynthesizing organisms (shown in green) on land and in the ocean, providing a glimpse of the complex responses of these organisms to changes in insolation, temperature, nutrient availability, rainfall, and other environmental factors.
Source: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, The SeaWiFS Project and ORBIMAGE, Scientific Visualization Studio. NOTE: These SeaWiFS images and data are for research and educational use only.
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Atmospheric Composition—from tracking the air-quality impacts of wildfires to monitoring the size of the ozone hole, satellites measure many chemical properties of Earth's atmosphere.
Biosphere—satellites help scientists observe biological processes around the globe, such as the greening of terrestrial vegetation in the spring or blooms of aquatic organisms in the ocean.
Cryosphere—satellites help scientists study the areas of Earth covered by ice and snow.
Oceans—measurements from satellites shed light on ocean circulation patterns and changes in sea surface temperature.
Weather—satellites track wind, water, and other atmospheric variables to gain insights on weather patterns and improve predictions.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Most of the images and animations contained in this CD were created by governmental agencies and are generally not copyrighted. These may be used for educational or informational purposes. Where specific attribution is given, the original copyright owner must provide permission for the use of images in printed or electronic materials.
