Visitors to this site can read and view satellite imagery about the most recent La Nina event, which produced less-than-normal snowfalls in Western North America. A TOPEX/Poseidon image of the Pacific ocean illustrates the warmer water and higher-than-normal sea surface height in the Western Pacific which are characteristic of a La Nina event. A discussion of the uncertainties of long-range climate prediction and links to related sites are included.
Each two-week module in the Study of Place curriculum is framed by an historical event that makes a connection between the physical environment and human activity. The activities focus primarily on physical and earth science content, geography, and inquiry skills. Assessments and scoring rubrics, including a pre-assessment that can be used for both modules, are embedded in each module, providing opportunities for tracking student learning. The Ocean Currents Exploration module is framed by Benjamin Franklin's quest to explain why English ships carrying mail to the American colonies took two weeks longer to cross the Atlantic than colonial merchant ships making a similar voyage. It explores the mysterious force in the ocean called the Gulf Stream. Students: * use images of the Gulf Stream to explore seasonal changes in temperature, wind direction, and wave height; * investigate density-driven ocean currents and consider whether global climate change might affect deep currents; * learn about wind-driven currents by plotting the location of sneakers from a ship's container spill, and model the movement of gyres; * investigate how sand and water store and transfer heat energy and read about the possible climatic implications of a warmer ocean.
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