That is why it is easier to float in the ocean than in a freshwater swimming pool or lake. Mapping ocean currents national geographic society. Planet ocean youth brainstorm what they already know about the ocean and learn about the vastness of earths one, interconnected ocean and the importance of the ocean to all life on the planet. The instructions are included in file lesson 8 instructions. This warm, low pressure water rises toward the poles in surface currents as the earth tries to move the heat around and balance things out. Warm water is less dense than cold water, meaning that cold water will sink below warm water. Sprinkle a teaspoon of herb oregano or chili powder over the surface.
Ocean currents and sea surface temperature image courtesy my nasa data live access server. In 1992, a cargo ship carrying bath toys got caught in a storm. Teacher guide to activities oceans of data institute. A powerpoint with lecture content and activity guidance for the teacher is. Dissolve the salt in one of the jars and add blue food coloring. This type of movement is called thermohaline circulation. Covers types of currents surface and deep and the role of ocean currents and the. In this activity, you will create a model ocean, blow wind over it, and see how wind affects ocean surface currents. Temperature and deep ocean circulation ocean surface. This unit consists of 5 lessons focused on ocean currents and physical oceanography. Lesson 8 presents the mechanisms that drive surface and deep ocean currents. Students will explain the cause of the coriolis effect, and how this effect influences ocean currents. Where winds blow in the same direction for a long period of time, currents will develop that transport large masses of water over considerable distances across ocean surfaces. An overview of ocean currents and how they circulate.
Currents play an important role in the earths climate system. Also known as thermohaline circulation, the conveyor belt is a. For example, wind pushes the water along the surface to form winddriven currents. If you have tasted the ocean, you know it is very salty. Ocean current worksheet temperature affects and surface currents. Grades 48 learning goals students will understand the location of the major surface currents of the oceans, how surface currents affect nearby landmasses, the relationship between temperature of water and density, the relationship between salinity of water and density. This activity demonstrates the thermohaline circulation global ocean conveyor circulation throughout the worlds oceans and the relative density differences between cold and warm ocean water. To discover the link between ocean temperatures and currents as related to our concern for current climate change grade level. Dive into the science of ocean currents including the global conveyor belt current, and find out how climate change affects them. One of the major drivers of our ocean currents is sea ice formation.
Ocean currents and gyres are major forces connecting areas in the pacific ocean. In a bowl, mix the ice, cold water, and blue food coloring. Ocean currents,waves and tides scavenger hunt this scavenger hunt introduces to students an information and basics and details about the science related to ocean currents, waves and tides. Within the oceans, large and small ocean currents transport water and nutrients to all parts of the globe. Use your map with the labeled currents of the world to sail around the world. The ocean absorbs large amounts of heat energy from the sun, and ocean currents move this energy from one place on earth to another. Finally, students may need their earth science reference tables esrt for parts of the lesson a document used widely in the new york state earth science regents course as. Patterns in surface ocean currents ocean gyres you observed in activity 2 that few of the currents seem to take a straight path. In the activity, students play a game focused on the primary surface current names and locations.
There are 28 scavenger hunt cards with colorful pictures. Ocean currents are similar to winds in the atmosphere in that they transfer significant amounts of heat from earths equatorial. Ocean current worksheet temperature affects and surface. These densitydriven currents are called the thermohaline circulation system thermo for temperature and haline for salinity. Conduct the following experiment to learn more about the relationship between temperature and deep ocean currents. Add a drop of red food coloring to the other jar and. This new understanding made the study of ocean currents relevant. Using the data table and the current cards, draw in each of the currents onto the global ocean surface current map label and draw in the correct location and direction of each. Upon completion of video, students should begin to answer questions provided on the ocean currents worksheet. The differing densities of water have set up a global circulation pattern which is drawn schematically as an oceanic conveyor belt that redistributes large amounts of heat around the earth. Dont forget to use a red colored pencil for the warm currents and a blue colored pencil for the cold currents. Ocean currents activities website, experiment, questions pdf or.
Over larger areas, circular wind patterns create hills and valleys on the ocean surface. Use blue pencil for the cold currents and red pencil for warm currents. Winds, water density, and tides all drive ocean currents. Obtain maps of sea surface temperature sst and ocean surface winds from the live access server. Winds are able to move the top 400 meters of the ocean creating surface ocean currents. Point out that ocean currents are driven by the wind and influenced by the landmasses that obstruct the flow of water as well as the density and temperature of the water. Waste disposal youth learn what cause ocean currents.
Additionally, if you would like all of the resources together in a pdf document, that can be accessed as a complete resource here. Using the straw again place some ice water at below the warm water. Also print the weekly ocean news or supplemental files as designated. Ocean current, stream made up of horizontal and vertical components of the circulation system of ocean waters that is produced by gravity, wind friction, and water density variation in different parts of the ocean. This friction then forces the water to move in a spiral pattern, creating gyres. Surface currents are horizontal, streamlike movements of water that are found at or near the surface of the ocean. Complete the investigations in the ocean studies investigations manual as directed by your instructor.
Let us see about the ocean currents in this lesson. Show the ocean conveyor belt cartoon from the resource carousel again and discuss how differences in water temperature relate to the ocean conveyor belt. Finally, we will look at different ways in which we can measure ocean currents. Have students begin watching ocean currents internet video lesson, 10 minutes. Currents are used by animals for migrations, by humans for exploration and travel, and affect climate around the globe. Click on the left and right arrow to scroll through the lesson, or select the play button for an automatic slideshow. In these areas, the balance between gravity and earths spin causes geostrophic currents to flow.
Cold flows, such as the eastern boundary currents, bring cooler temperatures to low latitudes. Earths rotation results in the coriolis effect which also influences ocean currents. The students will need to suspend the thermometers in the jars through their lids. Students will identify the primary causes for ocean currents and waves. Compare and contrast the movement of surface currents and deep currents. Fill a tin pie plate to the inner rim with cold tap water. Links to prelab activity and classic czcs scenes menu.
The ocean waters near the equator are heated directly by the suns rays. Students should be taking no tes as they watch the video. The ocean conveyor belt is caused by differences in water temperature and salinity. Waters at the poles receive less energy from the sun they are tilted further away from the sun. Similar to a person trying to walk in a straight line across a spinning merrygoround, winds and ocean waters get deflected from a straight line path as they travel. Ocean currents affect weather and life all over the globe. Display the ocean conveyor belt cartoon from the resource carousel. Surface currents are those found in the upper 400 meters 1,300 feet of the ocean and make up about 10% of all the water in the ocean. How long does it take long currents to complete their circuit of the globe. In the process, additional salt is released into the ocean. In fact, there is a circular pattern of movement that repeats itself in each of the major oceans. Warm flows, like the western boundary currents, carry heat from the tropics toward the poles. How come most common observers of the ocean fail to observe ocean currents.
The ocean in motion circulation in this program, students will learn about the driving forces responsible for ocean circulation. The atmosphere is another one of the climate teams power. Students will calculate the magnitude of ocean currents, given data from. Density currents overview this activity demonstrates the thermohaline circulation throughout the worlds oceans and the relative density between cold and warm ocean water. Tracking the ducks became a concrete example of how an action in one place can impact the environment half a world away. The rules of the game are how ocean currents work in real life, too.
As directed by your instructor, complete this activity. Students will explain how and why ocean currents vary with increasing latitude. The two maps in this activity represent average sea surface temperatures. Chart of the currents off of the united states map of the united states map of ocean currents preparation this activity works best as a small group activity or as a demonstration. The deep waters of the oceans come from the surface water cooled in the polar region. Surface currents are mostly caused by the w ind because it creates friction as it moves over the water. This activity uses real data, including sea surface temperature sst and wind speed, from satellites to investigate the link between ocean temperatures and currents and draws a connection of ocean heat transport to global climate. The process of global ocean circulation is presented, emphasizing the importance of this process for climate regulation. Each lesson contains at least one handson activity with instructions or a worksheet for the students. The processes that drive a circulation pattern throughout the atlantic ocean also operate in the other oceans of the world. Ocean currents ocean water moves on and below the surface in streams known as currents.
Oceans temperatures, currents, and effects lesson plan. All ocean currents are caused by either wind patterns or by differences in water densities. Currents overview lesson 8 presents the mechanisms that drive surface and deep ocean currents. Map skills, ocean currents, pollution, and a rubber duck. Explain to students that this is a depiction of ocean currents called the ocean conveyor belt. Ocean currents, waves and tides scavenger hunt teaching. The oceans major current systems are sometimes called the global conveyor belt, and the heat that they carry has a large impact on climate. Surface waters of the earths oceans are forced to move, primarily by winds. Using a clear straw, place some ice water on top of the warm water. Overall, ocean currents moderate the planets temperature extremes. When ocean water in the arctic or antarctic gets very cold, it freezes into sea ice. Ocean currents introduction and map activity by geo.
Ocean currents activity easy peasy allinone high school. Page1 reading activity to introduce students to the basics of ocean currents. Importantly, students reflected on the impact humans have on the environment. Cool, more dense water from the poles moves in deep ocean currents toward the equator and a convective movement is created.
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