Corals, like other living animals, require a particular range of environmental conditions …
Corals, like other living animals, require a particular range of environmental conditions to survive. In this lab, students examine sea surface temperature, depth, salinity, and aragonite saturation data to discover coral reefs' favored environments.
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In Part A:Students are introduced to the global circulation patterns of the …
In Part A:Students are introduced to the global circulation patterns of the atmosphere and the oceans, and investigate how those circulation patterns might influence their local region. In Part B: Students study surface ocean currents and then predict the pathway of a floating object dropped into the ocean at a particular point, maybe one closest to their own region. Then, using a computer model of ocean currents, they test their predictions.
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In the previous lab, students explored the characteristics of the ocean environment …
In the previous lab, students explored the characteristics of the ocean environment in which coral reefs thrive. Unfortunately,there are a number of factors, both natural and anthropogenic (resulting from human activities), that can alter the ocean environment and threaten the health of coral reef ecosystems. In this activity, students will examine the three main factors that disrupt corals.
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Students examine interactions and feedback between the cryosphere and atmosphere. In the …
Students examine interactions and feedback between the cryosphere and atmosphere. In the first part of this investigation, students do a hands-on activity to explore albedo and how sea ice helps regulate global temperatures.
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Human-induced nutrient loading of the world's oceans has been linked to increased …
Human-induced nutrient loading of the world's oceans has been linked to increased and prolonged algae blooms, sometimes with potentially deadly consequences. In this investigation, students will create their own algal blooms, analyze satellite images of chlorophyll concentrations in the Sea of Cort��s, and learn about two alarming consequences of excessive algae growth-—dead zones and harmful algae blooms (HABs).
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Students extract streams and watersheds from a DEM for the island of …
Students extract streams and watersheds from a DEM for the island of Hawai'i. They then look to seeif there is a correlation between precipitation and the way a stream network develops on a mountain. Students also investigate if this is related to vegetation, soil type, and slope.
Students use a Python script to download position, size and foretasted position …
Students use a Python script to download position, size and foretasted position and size of hurricanes into a spreadsheet from NOAA hurricane forecasts. They then display the actual and foretasted hurricane positions in ArcMap. Finally students look at which counties in the United States have had the highest amount of hurricane activity. Students display their work in a multi-part map, or a series of maps.
In this lab, modified from Barbara and David Tewksbury's sea level rise …
In this lab, modified from Barbara and David Tewksbury's sea level rise lab, students use bathy/topo DEMs from NOAA to predict the location of shorelines after certain amounts of sea level rise and tsunami inundation. This is then combined with TIGER census data to get estimates of the number of people affected by the change in shoreline. Students then display their results with data driven map pages.
Students create a model of sea level rise based on the melting …
Students create a model of sea level rise based on the melting of land ice, sea ice, or grounded ice. Student predictions are recorded and models are run. Making explanations based on data, cause and effect, and asking questions are emphasized in this activity.
Students create a STELLA model of two marine terrace platforms separated in …
Students create a STELLA model of two marine terrace platforms separated in elevation by a cliff, using the hillslope flux equation to simulate the change in the cliff face over time as diffusive processes tear it down.
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This activity allows students to examine graphs of sea level rise data …
This activity allows students to examine graphs of sea level rise data as well as global temperature data. They calculate amounts and rates of sea level rise for various time periods and answer questions discussing the data. They then compare the sea level rise trends to those in a graph of temperature data.
This is a hands-on lab activity about seawater density. After developing a …
This is a hands-on lab activity about seawater density. After developing a hypothesis, learners will conduct a simple investigation of density. They will discuss changes in density observed and describe how salt affects the density of water. Background information, common student preconceptions, a glossary and more is included. This activity is part of the Aquarius Hands-on Laboratory Activities.
This interactive visualization provides a clear, well-documented snapshot of current and projected …
This interactive visualization provides a clear, well-documented snapshot of current and projected values of several climate variables for local areas in California. The climate variables include observed and projected temperatures, projected snowpack, areas vulnerable to flooding due to sea level rise, and projected increase in wildfires. The projected values come from expert sources and well-established climate models.
This climate model simulates the Earth's climate system by allowing users to …
This climate model simulates the Earth's climate system by allowing users to toggle different influences on climate (e.g. oceans, atmospheric gases) based on model version used.
Create a river. Learn how water flows. Activity from Weekly STEM in …
Create a river. Learn how water flows. Activity from Weekly STEM in a Bag. Colorado Americorp agents in Araphahoe, Denver, Garfield, Larimer, and Weld Counties. Work supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service under Americorps grant number 18AFHCO0010008. Opinions or points of view expressed in this lesson are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or a position that is endorsed by the Corporation or the Americorps program. This resource is also available in Spanish in the linked file.
Students work alone or in groups to draw "cross plots" and make …
Students work alone or in groups to draw "cross plots" and make connections between ocean biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. This simple graphical tool helps students understand the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography. It also enables students to apply knowledge to a local area, an ocean, the global ocean, or a topic, such as ocean acidification.
Even experienced divers rarely get to see the Mandarinfish, a colorful reef …
Even experienced divers rarely get to see the Mandarinfish, a colorful reef fish that is so shy, it only comes out of hiding for a half-hour a day. In this video, Jonathan travels to the south Pacific to film spawning Mandarinfish and witnesses an incredible secret ritual. Please see the accompanying study guide for educational objectives and discussion points.
Where the tropical ocean meets the sea, a peculiar kind of plant …
Where the tropical ocean meets the sea, a peculiar kind of plant thrives in shallow, salty water. These mangrove plants are incredibly important for shoreline protection and baby fish habitats. In this video, Jonathan investigates life in mangroves by visiting both Caribbean and Pacific mangroves. Please see the accompanying study guide for educational objectives and discussion points.
In this video, Jonathan travels to the Micronesian island of Yap in …
In this video, Jonathan travels to the Micronesian island of Yap in the middle of the Pacific to investigate large gatherings of the world's largest rayŰÓthe manta. A research program there is tracking dozens of these animals and Jonathan learns what they're doing hanging around certain coral heads every morning. Please see the accompanying lesson plan on tides for educational objectives, discussion points and classroom activities.
This activity introduces students to Greenland ice-melt data derived from passive microwave …
This activity introduces students to Greenland ice-melt data derived from passive microwave remote sensing between the years 1979 and 2007. Students make a quantitative comparison between the two years using the mapping program ArcGIS. Students are provided with NASA raster images in GeoTiff form that show Greenland ice melt extent over two of the years on record (1979 ad 2007). Students then draw polygons over these raster files and calculate a change in area between the years on record. While tools exist in ArcGIS to quantify the extent of ice melt using the raster images themselves, drawing polygons is an important and often little-practiced skill in ArcGIS, and is therefore the focus of this activity. This activity can also be modified for more advanced map-makers working with raster files, who need practice using additional tools in the Arc Toolbox. However, raster calculations are not generally a skill covered in an introductory GIS course. The activity is meant to reinforce important map-making skills (like drawing polygons and creating new geodatabases) using a data set that explores a real-world application of ArcGIS for Earth Science students. While any two (or more!) years on record can be used, 1979 and 2007 have been used to explore extremes in the data. You can learn more about the data set and the GeoTiff images here: http://nsidc.org/greenland-today/. The activity was designed for students with prior mapping skills, but can be modified for those who have little to no mapping experience (step by step instructions can be provided, upon request).
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