An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry

<.05

0.07

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

0.6

0.7 0.8 0.9

1.

1.5

3.

10.

Plate 6.3

A global view of the Earth’s biosphere from multiple satellite images compiled by NASA. Individual images focus on small areas

of the Earth

concentrating on the light spectrum dominated by green chlorophyll. This image, based on chlorophyll content, provides an estim

ate of plant standing

stock rather than productivity (as in Box 6.6), although the two parameters are closely related. This colour image also demonst

rates that there are many

small-scale ocean features, such as eddies, which would complicate the simplified map in Box 6.6. The image also highlights the

importance of tropical

forests as areas of high plant biomass. Estimates of phytoplankton pigment concentrations (mg

m

-^3 ) shown according to colour code.