1:There are areas of the ocean with relatively large concentrations of nutrients that animals and plants use as food substances. ln these areas you see a lot of phytoplankton the plant portion of plankton), especially in the spring. Why do some areas have greater amounts of phyto- plankton? Where would be the best place for deep-sea fishing?

2:If a zooplankton, a very small animal type of plankton, eats a phytoplankton, generally speaking, what happens to the zooplankton and the carbon that remained in the phytoplankton?

3:What is an example of the lowest level of the "food chain" on land?

4:Scientists use two types of satellites to study the environment. A geostationary satellite remains above the same spot on the Earth's equator from an altitude of about 22,500 miles, and can "see" an entire hemisphere all the time. A polar orbiting satellite travels in a circular orbit, passing above the North and South Poles while the Earth rotates beneath it. This type of satellite can "see" details as small as a mile or less. Which of these satellites probably would be better for our ocean color instrument? Would one prove better than the other to track hurricanes and other large weather systems?

5:How do the atmosphere and the ocean interact?

6:How could global warming affect sea levels? Why is global warming important?

7:Where do plankton grow?

8: Make a Greenhouse.

Materials needed;

Procedure;

Place some paper towels loosely in the bottom of each shoe box, then lay the thermometer on the towels. Cover the open top of one box with plastic wrap, taped to the side of the box; leave the other box with the top off (open). Place the boxes side by side, and move the desk light so it shines evenly into both boxes. Record the temperature in each box every minute for 10 minutes. Plot the temperatures on a graph with time as the "x" (horizontal) axis and temperature as the "y,' (vertical) axis.

Analysis

Discuss the differences you see in the observed temperatures in the two boxes, and why this is happening.

Variation

Try replacing the paper towels in each box with black paper. Repeat the experiment. What differences do you note?

SeaWiFS Teacher's Guide and Activities
gene carl feldman (301) 286-9428