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Satellite Monitoring of Coastal Ocean Productivity
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| Hypothesis 1 | Upwelling of cold water or cold water mixing in the ocean along the nothern United States eastern coast may be followed by an algal bloom. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hypothesis 2 | If eddies split off the Gulf Stream along the Atlantic coast, displacing coastal waters, then algal productivity may increase along the edge of the eddies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Main Objective | A significant upwelling event and an eddy formation will be identified from ocean surface temperature data. SeaWiFS data for chlorophyll concentration in mG/m3 for that day and subsequent days will be studied for the correlation of algal productivity. Using satellite imagery for surface temperature of the Atlantic Ocean from NOAA 12, 14,15, AVHRR data, Sea Wifs data, and supportive data from surface research vessles, we will correlate data from visual images to support our hypotheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background |
Follow the link to find out about phytoplankton, AVHRR,
SeaWiFS, upwelling, and eddies. |
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| Procedure | Data was collected on July 6 and 7, 1999 for the upwelling study and
June 3, 1999 for the study of eddies/rings along the Atlantic coast.
The July 6 data was obtained for study along the coasts of New Jersey and
Long Island, New York. The July 7 data was obtained for study along the
Gulf of Maine and the June 3 data was obtained for the Atlantic Ocean coast
from the Gulf of Maine southward to the Carolina coast. For each of these
days, SeaWiFS imagery were recorded as well as SST data taken from
AVHRR NOAA 14 and 15 satellites.
Using the satellite images, plot lines were drawn from west to east, with one along the shore line on the SST image of June 3 for clarification in the eddy formations. The plot lines were used to produce graphs which show the temperature gradient on the SST images and the chlorophyll concentration gradient on the SeaWiFS image. The graphs are presented with the images for chlorophyll concentration and temperature comparisons. In addition, real time data from the LEO 15 project is included for the comparison of satellite data to surface and subsurface data on July 6. |
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| Data Table |
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| Learn More about the Technology |
Click on the links below to
see the images and plots that we used:
SST and SeaWiFS images and plots as well as temperature and fluorometer plots SST and SeaWiFS images and plots SeaWiFS image and cooresponding plots NOAA 15 SST image and cooresponding plots |
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| Analysis and Conclusion |
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| References |
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| The
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
CN 5281, Princeton NJ 08543-5281 - Tel:(609)452-7007 - Fax:(609)452-0066 Technical contact: lpt@woodrow.org |