Challenge Question

What similarities and differences exist between patterns in chlorophyll-a concentrations from the three locations over time? How does that relate to what you know about primary production?

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Note, the graph will automatically zoom to the fall season.




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Your Objective

Investigate the "Chlorophyll-a Concentration" data to determine how the data vary over time among areas in the Temperate Zones of the Pacific Ocean (Coastal Endurance Array) and Atlantic Ocean (Coastal Pioneer Array; Argentine Basin Array).

Data Tip: Select the different locations to explore relationships and patterns in the data. Zoom in and out of the data to look at different time scales across time to see if it changes the relationships or patterns you observe.

Interpretation and Analysis Questions

  1. Is there a relationship in primary production over time in the Temperate Zones of the Ocean?
    1. If so, explain what kind of relationship is it? Why do you think that relationship exists for chlorophyll-a concentration over time in the Temperate Zones of the Ocean?
    2. If not, why do you think there is no relationship for chlorophyll-a concentration over time in the Temperate Zones of the Ocean?
  2. How does this relationship, or lack of relationship, support or challenge what you previously knew about primary production?
  3. What questions do you still have about primary production?

Background Information

Click on the images below to learn more about where and how the dataset above was collected.