Taking the Pulse of our Changing Planet
A public lecture and professional development series at Liberty Science Center
Spring has Sprung!... In the Ocean
Phytoplankton Throughout the Year
Have you ever wondered if plants in the ocean go through seasonal cycles just like plants on the land? Well, it turns our they do.
First, play with the flash animation below to explore the model of the seasonal cycle of phytoplankton, the nutrients they feed on, and the zooplankton (which are small marine animals) that eat them.
Then, check out some real historical averages of Sea Surface Temperatures and Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations to analyze how chlorophyll concentrations (which is a measure of how many small plants are in the ocean) change throughout the course of the year. You can also check out some Real-Time Maps of Chlorophyll to see how productive the oceans are right now.
