Data Activity 2
Chlorophyll Patterns in Temperate Oceans Concept Invention

Your Objective

Use chlorophyll-a concentration data, from the 3-wavelength fluorometer, over time to investigate patterns in chlorophyll-a concentrations, as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, in the temperate Atlantic Ocean (Coastal Pioneer Array) and Pacific Ocean (Coastal Endurance Array).

Coastal Endurance and Coastal Pioneer are two of the seven OOI arrays throughout the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Schematic of the instruments and moorings at the Coastal Endurance Washington Offshore station in the Pacific Ocean. Data in this activity were collected from the Shelf Surface Mooring (D).
Schematic of the instruments and moorings at the Coastal Pioneer station in the Atlantic Ocean. Data in this activity were collected from the Central Surface Mooring (E).
Schematic of the different elements of the Coastal Endurance Washington Offshore Shelf Surface Mooring. The 3-wavelength fluorometer is on the Instrument Package in 7m of water.
Schematic of the different elements of the Coastal Pioneer Central Surface Mooring. The 3-wavelength flourometer is on the Instrument Package in 7m of water.
Wetlabs ECO Triplet 3-wavelength fluorometer instrument collected the data for this activity.

Challenge

What happens to the primary productivity in Temperate Oceans over time?

Exploration

Investigate the Chlorophyll-a Concentration data over time from each station in the Temperate Oceans.

Include datasets:


Explanation

Recall that the research challenge you are trying to address is: What happens to the primary productivity in Temperate Oceans over time?

As you consider the data you are investigating, write a reflection on the following questions: