This two and a half minute video from the California Academy of Sciences shows seasonal variation in primary productivity, both on land and in the ocean, as seen from space. The visualization is based on empirical scientific data collected over time.
The phenomenon could engage students along with the following driving questions:
What factors control changes in primary productivity over time, on land and in the ocean?
How do seasonal changes in sunlight affect plant growth?
What indicators could be used to measure the rate of photosynthesis from space?
What areas of our planet are most productive, and why?
A suggested lesson plan is provided that integrates this phenomenon.