Earth Science Gallery
2002 EARTH SCIENCE VIDEOTAPES
Tape Title
Record ID
Date Produced
TRT:
Synopsis
MASSIVE ICEBERGS MAY AFFECT ANTARCTIC SEA LIFE AND FOOD CHAIN
G02-028 4/23/02 00:09:46 NASA-funded research using satellite data has shown large icebergs that have broken off from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf caused a 40 percent reduction in the magnitude of the 2000-2001 plankton bloom in the one of Antarctica's most biologically productive areas. This is the first time that the ecological impact of icebergs has been studied. The B-15 iceberg broke off the Ross Ice Shelf and drifted into the southwestern Ross Sea. B-15 was as large as the state of Connecticut (approximately 10,000 square kilometers or 3,861 square miles). The B-15 iceberg impeded normal ice flow in the Ross Sea. The resulting barrier altered wind and current patterns. It created an ice jam that greatly reduced the area of open water available for phytoplankton to reproduce.
TAPE CONTENTS:
ITEM (1): Comparison of Phytoplankton Blooms During Antarctic Spring/Summer 2000 & 2001 - After the calving of the B-15 iceberg in March of 2000, researchers used imagery from NASA's SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor) satellite and data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program to see the effect that large icebergs have on phytoplankton (minute floating plants) blooms. Two massive icebergs, initially designated B-15 and C-16, broke away from the Ross Ice Shelf in March 2000 and migrated west to a point northeast of McMurdo Sound. The resulting barrier altered wind and current patterns.
Data Notes: Antarctic Coastline - Terra MODIS data image
Dark Blue area - SSMI data showing areas of open water
Gradient Blue area - SSMI data showing ice cover
SeaWiFS Chlorophyll data is projected on top
Credit: NASA/ ORBIMAGE/U.S. Department of Defense
ITEM (2): 3 Year Annual Comparison - This side by side graphic shows the Chlorophyll content during the normal 1998 and 1999 seasonal blooms and the effect the B-15 iceberg and it's pieces had on the bloom in 2000.
Credit: NASA/ORBIMAGE
ITEM (3): Sequence of B-15 Calving -The MODIS instrument aboard the Terra Satellite captured these images of the B-15 iceberg calving DATE.
Credits: NASA/ORBIMAGE
ITEM (4): Sequence of B-15 Iceberg - MODIS data shows the position of B-15 from December 2001 to March 2002. The B-15 iceberg carved of in March, 2000 and slowly migrated west to a point northeast of McMurdo Sound.
Credits: NASA
ITEM (5): Antarctic Wild Life - Iceberg B-15 impacted the food supply of Antarctic wildlife by creating an ice jam that reduced the normal plankton
bloom by 40%. Phytoplankton is at the bottom of the food chain.
Credits: NASA
ITEM (6): SeaWiFS Satellite Instrument Animation - Chlorophyll data from the SeaWiFS instrument on the Orbview-2 satellite was used to study the ecological effects the B-15 iceberg had on the Ross Sea.
Credits: NASA/ORBIMAGE
ITEM (7): Satellite Animation - Terra's primary objective is to study Earth's lands, oceans, air, ice and life functions as a planet-wide system. The MODIS instrument imaged the B-15 iceberg and the Ross Ice Shelf with visual and thermal imaging.
Credits: NASA
ITEM (8): Interview Excerpts With
Dr. Thorsten Markus, Physicist, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Credits: NASA
[Changes Over Time
and Phytoplankton Blooms Movie]
[Iceberg Break Movie]
NOTE: The material advertised on this page is a "Video File" and is strictly recommended for the media and production companies. This is NOT a finished production but does contain some narration.
[HOME]
[Return to the Earth Science Catalog]
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Earth Science Gallery
2002 EARTH SCIENCE VIDEOTAPES |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tape Title | Record ID | Date Produced | TRT: | Synopsis |
| MASSIVE ICEBERGS MAY AFFECT ANTARCTIC SEA LIFE AND FOOD CHAIN | G02-028 | 4/23/02 | 00:09:46 | NASA-funded research using satellite data has shown large icebergs that have broken off from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf caused a 40 percent reduction in the magnitude of the 2000-2001 plankton bloom in the one of Antarctica's most biologically productive areas. This is the first time that the ecological impact of icebergs has been studied. The B-15 iceberg broke off the Ross Ice Shelf and drifted into the southwestern Ross Sea. B-15 was as large as the state of Connecticut (approximately 10,000 square kilometers or 3,861 square miles). The B-15 iceberg impeded normal ice flow in the Ross Sea. The resulting barrier altered wind and current patterns. It created an ice jam that greatly reduced the area of open water available for phytoplankton to reproduce. |
TAPE CONTENTS: |
||||
ITEM (1): Comparison of Phytoplankton Blooms During Antarctic Spring/Summer 2000 & 2001 - After the calving of the B-15 iceberg in March of 2000, researchers used imagery from NASA's SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor) satellite and data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program to see the effect that large icebergs have on phytoplankton (minute floating plants) blooms. Two massive icebergs, initially designated B-15 and C-16, broke away from the Ross Ice Shelf in March 2000 and migrated west to a point northeast of McMurdo Sound. The resulting barrier altered wind and current patterns.
| ||||
| ITEM (2): 3 Year Annual Comparison - This side by side graphic shows the Chlorophyll content during the normal 1998 and 1999 seasonal blooms and the effect the B-15 iceberg and it's pieces had on the bloom in 2000. Credit: NASA/ORBIMAGE | ||||
| ITEM (3): Sequence of B-15 Calving -The MODIS instrument aboard the Terra Satellite captured these images of the B-15 iceberg calving DATE. Credits: NASA/ORBIMAGE | ||||
| ITEM (4): Sequence of B-15 Iceberg - MODIS data shows the position of B-15 from December 2001 to March 2002. The B-15 iceberg carved of in March, 2000 and slowly migrated west to a point northeast of McMurdo Sound. Credits: NASA | ||||
| ITEM (5): Antarctic Wild Life - Iceberg B-15 impacted the food supply of Antarctic wildlife by creating an ice jam that reduced the normal plankton bloom by 40%. Phytoplankton is at the bottom of the food chain. Credits: NASA | ||||
| ITEM (6): SeaWiFS Satellite Instrument Animation - Chlorophyll data from the SeaWiFS instrument on the Orbview-2 satellite was used to study the ecological effects the B-15 iceberg had on the Ross Sea. Credits: NASA/ORBIMAGE | ||||
| ITEM (7): Satellite Animation - Terra's primary objective is to study Earth's lands, oceans, air, ice and life functions as a planet-wide system. The MODIS instrument imaged the B-15 iceberg and the Ross Ice Shelf with visual and thermal imaging. Credits: NASA | ||||
| ITEM (8): Interview Excerpts With Dr. Thorsten Markus, Physicist, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Credits: NASA | ||||
[Changes Over Time and Phytoplankton Blooms Movie] [Iceberg Break Movie]
NOTE: The material advertised on this page is a "Video File" and is strictly recommended for the media and production companies. This is NOT a finished production but does contain some narration.
[HOME] [Return to the Earth Science Catalog] [How to order videotapes]