Giovanni_NEO_cookbook_Sargasso

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Ocean Color

Sargasso Sea chapter headedr Sargasso Sea chlorophyll concentration header image

Data Sets For This Chapter:

Visualizations For This Chapter:

Location Map and Coordinates

Sargasso Sea geographic location Latitude longitude coordinates

Step-by-Step

Refer to the pages for Giovanni functions and NEO functions if you are unfamiliar with the functions described below.

Area Plot: Giovanni

Select the area.
Parameter: chlorophyll a
Plot Type: Lat-Lon map, Time-averaged
Time period: Begin Year - 2002; Begin Month - January; End Year, 2002; End Month - December.
Generate plot.

Chlorophll area plot, Sargasso Sea, January-December 2002

Scatter Plot: NEO

Sargasso Sea NEO SST and chlorophyll

4. Generate a scatter plot of SST versus chlorophyll. The plot should look similar to the one below.

ICE SST chlorophyll scatter plot

Time-Series: Giovanni

Select an area in the center of the Sargasso Sea. Suggested: North Latitude, 30.0 N; South Latitude, 24.0 N; West Longitude, 65.0 W; East Longitude, 35.0 W.
Parameter: chlorophyll a
Plot Type: Time-series, Area-averaged
Time period: Begin Year - 1999; Begin Month - June; End Year - 2003; End Month - June
Generate plot.

three year chlorophyll a time series in the Sargasso Sea

Transect: NEO

1. Draw a transect in the central Sargasso Sea with the "Plot Transect" function.

Sargasso Sea NEO SST chlorophyll transect

2. Plot chlorophyll and SST along the transect. The plot should look similar to the one below.

Sargasso Sea SST chlorophyll transect plot

Extended Investigations:

Using MODIS-Aqua data in Giovanni, generate a one-year time-series of SST using the central Sargasso Sea coordinates in the time-series box. Examine the annual range of temperatures.
Using MODIS-Aqua data in Giovanni, generate an area plot SST over an entire year, using the first set of coordinates.. Use the dynamic range of 15 to 30 degrees Centigrade to see the average temperatures in the Sargasso Sea during this year.
Using MODIS SST data in NEO, select a summer month and a winter month. Generate a histogram to see the difference in SST in summer and winter. Determine why this difference is asn important factor for hurricanes.