1. Imagery

2. Outline Background on satellite imaging (5 mins)
Activity 1: Ocean chlorophyll and sea surface temperature relationship (10-15 mins)
Acitvity 2: Understanding algal blooms (10-15 mins)
Discussion

3. Teaching standards Common core standards
Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text.
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem
Environmental science standards
Describe interconnection between abiotic and biotic factors
Next generation science standards
Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may alter the ecosystem

4. Imagery Local patterns are easy to study
Local processes carried out by microbes (i.e. oxygen production, nutrient cycling) combine to influence global cycles
How do we monitor global patterns in primary production, chlorophyll concentration, temperature, etc.?

5. Satellite history
1957-Sputnik 1 first satellite successfully launched by USSR
1958-Explorer 1 first NASA satellite
Discovered earth’s magnetic field
1964-Nimbus 1
One of the first observation satellites
Took photographs of cloud conditions
Since 1964, 40 satellite missions have been deployed and deactivated
Sputnik I
Explorer I

6. Satellites and oceanography
More than 20 satellites currently in orbit
What do they measure?
Scatterometer to measure wind speed and direction
Microwave radiometer to measure sea surface temperature
Infrared radiometer to identify cloud, land, and water features
Measure absorption to determine chlorophyll concentration

7. Satellite data Most provide real-time and historical data Free to use
Easily accessible
NASA Giovanni website

8. Sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll in the oceans
Ocean phytoplankton produce 50-85% of the oxygen on earth
What factors regulate this productivity?
Do you expect a relationship between global chlorophyll concentration (i.e. phytoplankton biomass) and temperature?

9. SST/chlorophyll relationship using satellite data
Activity 1
SST/chlorophyll relationship using satellite data

10. Activity 1 Questions
Is there a clear relationship between sea surface temperature and chlorophyll?
What is this relationship and how does it vary across seasons?
What factors might explain the relationship between these two variables?

11. Activity 1 expected outcomes
Students should see regardless of season phytoplankton abundance is greatest in coldwater regions or along coasts.

12. Ocean currents
Higher nutrient concentrations in coldwater regions can explain chlorophyll/temperature relationship
What factors regulate the distribution of nutrients in the world oceans?
How does nutrient concentration vary along a vertical gradient in a water column?

13. Ocean currents
Mixing of warm and cold water currents bring nutrients to the ocean surface
Are there other factors influencing nutrient distribution in the ocean?
How are ocean currents created and what are some of the controlling variables?

14. Harmful algal blooms
Runoff from land use leads to the formation of many blooms
Complex environmental conditions initiating blooms still under investigation
Visible from space

15. Activity 2
Harmful algal blooms

16. Activity 2 Questions
Are there certain times of the year during which chlorophyll levels are high or low? Why?
In general, what area(s) of the Gulf of Mexico have highest chlorophyll concentrations? Why?

17. Activity 2 expected outcomes
Students should understand that land use patterns and runoff lead to algal blooms in coastal systems. They should also be able to describe seasonal patterns in algal bloom formation.