Continents and Currents beautifully demonstrates how the position of continents affects the movements of ocean currents. It serves as an engaging introduction for discussions of plate tectonics, currents, climate, and even Earth history.
This interactive feature story is part of Science Bulletins, an innovative online and exhibition program that offers the public a window into the excitement of scientific discovery. Published in September 2004, this EarthBulletin examines what scientists have recently learned about the North Atlantic Oscillation climate pattern. It includes the following components: Four online essays -- NAO Who?, How NAO Does Its Thing, NAO Data Hunting (and Gathering), Forecasting the Unpredictable -- each available in a print-friendly format; A seven-minute feature video, NAO: Driving Climate Across the North Atlantic, available in two download speeds; A full-color map showing oscillating pressure systems in the North Atlantic; An interactive that looks at the positive and negative phases of NAO; An interactive that examines how NAO may have affected recent history;A pop-up glossary of the terms used in this Earth Bulletin.
The "Global Conveyor Belt" shows how the oceans move energy from the tropics to the poles and back again in order to moderate Earth's climate. This is accomplished through long-term ocean circulation. This on-line tutorial about ocean circulation features text, pictures, and satellite imagery with links to topics such as ocean heat transport, the coriolis effect, hills and valleys in the ocean, measurement and motion in the wind and ocean, changes in sea height over time, and El Nino.
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.
This site Presents a MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) image of the Gulf Stream. The image is color-coded to show the variation in temperature of the ocean water. A brief description of the Gulf Stream, its direction and speed, and a link to other related imagery are included.
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