| Plankton
and Ocean Currents
Plankton, the microscopic plants and animals
floating in the ocean, are the base of the complex food webs that
support life in the ocean. Small fish and invertebrates feed on
the plankton, and in turn, they become food for larger fish and
animals. For this reason, scientists are interested in how and
where blooms of plankton occur and how they move over time. Fishermen
are also interested in knowing this because if they can locate
the plankton, they can often find fish feeding in the same area.
The location of plankton in the ocean is often associated with
ocean currents.
 
But how can the movement of plankton
that appears to be drifting randomly around in the ocean be monitored?
In this project, you will learn how to read vector images of real-time
CODAR (Coastal Radar) data. Then you will use your knowledge to
predict the movement of a phytoplankton bloom off the coast of
New Jersey. |
