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| Animated Time Series |
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The twelve composite images in each of the yearly sea surface temperature (SST) times series were derived from data gathered by an Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) polar orbiting satellite. These images show the Gulf of Maine, Nova Scotia in the upper right, and the coastal regions along New England. The images were derived using data from thermal infrared (IR) bands and converted to a surface temperature. Colors over water represent sea surface temperature in degrees Celsius according to the color scale shown on the left of each image. These images have a spatial resolution of ~1.1 km and were produced by averaging all the data available for a particular month. Because weather is often cloudy or foggy over the Gulf of Maine, averaging produces an image with more coverage than is possible on any given day. Such images are known as composites. Monthly composite images are useful for monitoring the ocean on seasonal and longer time scales. The twelve composite images in each of the yearly chlorophyll (Chl) times series were derived from data gathered by the Sea-Viewing Wide Field of View Sensor (SeaWiFS) instrument aboard the Orbview satellite. These images are the same resolution and cover the same area as the SST images. Each of the images was produced by averaging all the data for a particular month. The colors represent phytoplankton pigment concentrations -- or "chlorophyll" in mg per cubic meter in surface waters according to the color scale shown on the left of each image. The reds and oranges are the highest levels, and the green, blues and purples are progressively lower. Images such as these allow us to estimate the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean -- and relate this information to biological productivity of the waters and the rate of photosynthesis that is carried out by the phytoplankton. Please Note: Depending on the speed of your computer, it may take up to an minute for the time series to load. |
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Monthly Composites of SST |
Monthly Composites of Chl |
Monthly Composites of SST and Chl |
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