Patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, coriolis forces from the earths rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents. The surface currents of the major ocean basins show similarities to the prevailing wind systems. In the activity, students play a game focused on the primary surface current names and locations. Mapping ocean currents national geographic society. Coastal and sea floor features influence their location, direction, and speed. Warm flows, like the western boundary currents, carry heat from the tropics toward the poles. This book is written for upperdivision undergraduates and new graduate studentsin meteorology, ocean engineering, and oceanography. If you have tasted the ocean, you know it is very salty. Browse ocean currents and weather resources on teachers pay teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources. Page1 reading activity to introduce students to the basics of ocean currents. The module focuses on the driving mechanisms for currents.
Cool, more dense water from the poles moves in deep ocean currents toward the equator and a convective movement is created. Where winds blow in the same direction for a long period of time, currents will develop that transport large masses of. A powerpoint with lecture content and activity guidance for the teacher is also provided along with a 5e chart. Show the map of pacific ocean currents acetate to put hawaii and nuku hiva in the marquesas islands in context. The wind then pushes the surface water around the ocean in larger circular currents, called gyres. The rules of the game are how ocean currents work in real life, too.
Ocean currents map pdf knowledge of ocean currents can be used in cruise planning to reduce transit times. Download an assortment of puzzles, brainteasers, coloring activities, and formal curricula for grades 112. All curricula and activities are available for download and print. Covers types of currents surface and deep and the role of ocean currents and the planet. What does temperature have to do with the speed and direction of ocean currents. Pdf a biologists guide to assessing ocean currents. What causes ocean currents and how do we measure them. Surface waters of the earths oceans are forced to move, primarily by winds. The lesson plan itself has been set up to reflect a learning cycle approach to instruction. The net result of the ekman spiral in the northern hemisphere is to cause a slow transport of moving water to the right of the wind. This energy heats earths land, ocean, and atmosphere.
Ocean currents ocean water moves on and below the surface in streams known as currents. Pdf today, ocean currents are also gaining importance due to the possibility of harnessing alternative energy. Students will watch a video lesson, complete handson learning. Winds, water density, and tides all drive ocean currents. Each lesson contains at least one handson activity with instructions or a worksheet for the students. This unit consists of 5 lessons focused on ocean currents and physical oceanography. Dont forget to use a red colored pencil for the warm currents and a blue colored pencil for the cold currents. Activity ocean currents of the world only pages 4 and 5. Nov 26, 20 how does movement of ocean water and ph affect marine animals. Ocean current worksheet temperature affects and surface. See more ideas about ocean current, ocean acidification and ocean. In this planetarium activity, text that is in italics is suggested script for the teacher to use. This module discusses the origin of ocean currents in both the open ocean and in coastal areas.
This activity is a great way to introduce earths ocean currents while capitalizing on students mapping skills. Modeling the global conveyor belt in your kitchen full science buddies project idea. Download a pdf of all web pages for the instructors materials. Ocean currents, including the ocean conveyor belt, play a key role in determining how the ocean distributes heat energy throughout the planet. Ocean currents and climate national geographic society. Voyage of discovery, the physical setting, atmospheric influences, the oceanic heat budget, temperature, salinity, and density, the equations of motion, equations of motion with viscosity, geostrophic currents, wind driven ocean. Sixth graders experiment to understand the oceans currents. Discover your changing world with noaa oceanservice. The deep waters of the oceans come from the surface water cooled in the polar region. Download teacher pages pdf activity teacher verison pdf download. Ocean currents motion in the ocean lesson plan ocean currents lesson plan motion in the ocean theme ocean currents and waves links to overview essays and resources needed for student. The following aspects are highlighted in this lesson. Similar to isobars on a weather map and serve an analogous objective question on computer network pdf purpose. Click the image or here to download the rest of the story board images.
A schematic global summary of major currents in the upperocean schmitz, 1996. The calculated total changes in lod are in the order of 0. The ocean in motion circulation in this program, students will learn about the driving forces responsible for ocean circulation. 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 introduction and map activity by geo. Navigating the currents hoike o haleakala curriculum. Dissolve the salt in one of the jars and add blue food coloring. Upon completion of video, students should begin to answer questions provided on the ocean currents worksheet. Have students begin watching ocean currents internet video lesson, 10 minutes. Ocean currents rescue lab activity this is a fun little latitudelongitude ocean current activity. Cold flows, such as the eastern boundary currents, bring cooler temperatures to low latitudes. Sprinkle a teaspoon of herb oregano or chili powder over the surface.
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. Students complete a worksheet and two online activities related to ocean currents. Currents play an important role in the earths climate system. Free physical oceanography books download ebooks online. Overall, ocean currents moderate the planets temperature extremes. Earths rotation results in the coriolis effect which also influences ocean currents. 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. 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. Ask students if they know which main south pacific. Students plot the path of 2 current buoys to determine the location of a lost ship crew in the indian ocean. What role do temperature and salinity play in the density of ocean water.
What causes ocean currents ocean exploration facts. Teach your students about ocean currents, the different types of ocean currents, and their characteristics with this lesson plan. Additionally, if you would like all of the resources together in a pdf document, that can be accessed as a complete resource here. Also known as thermohaline circulation, the conveyor belt is a. Currents overview lesson 8 presents the mechanisms that drive surface and deep ocean currents. Click here for video introduction ocean currents are regular movements of water in one direction in the ocean. Students learn about ocean currents and the difference between salt and fresh water by using colored ice cubes to see how cold and warm water mix and how this mixing causes currents. Were compiling lessons on ocean acidification and currents to share here. How do density differences help to drive ocean currents. In this expedition, you will understand the processes that. That is why it is easier to float in the ocean than in a freshwater swimming pool or lake. Assessments test whether students have a basic understanding of what drives vertical ocean currents activity 1.
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. This activity will require one to two class periods. As with all sessions, the presentation to participants has been designed to practice what we preach. We will show a video clip showing sea level height and describe its connection to ocean circulation. Reveals how ocean currents transfer heat around the globe using the gulf stream as an example. Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. The process of global ocean circulation is presented, emphasizing the importance of this process for climate regulation. The ocean conveyor belt is caused by differences in water temperature and salinity.
All ocean currents are caused by either wind patterns or by differences in water densities. Fill a tin pie plate to the inner rim with cold tap water. Causes of ocean currents the movement of ocean water is. This is a crossover science activity oceanography geography graphing. They also learn how fresh water floats on top of salt water, the difference between ocean and fresh, and how engineers are involved in the design of ocean water systems for human use. 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. Ocean waters are constantly on the move, creating a dynamic, everchanging system. Ocean current worksheet temperature affects and surface currents.
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