Oceans 2 Investigations

Oceans 2 Investigations

© 2002 American Geological Institute http://www.agiweb.org

Contents: All Activities and Investigations
Ocean Investigations (2) see also  Ocean Activities (1)
Investigation 1
Investigation 2
Investigation 3
Investigation 4
Investigation 5
Investigation 6
Investigation 7

Throughout this module, students will use hands-on, inquiry-based explorations to investigate:

• properties of seawater
• how ocean water circulates and how currents are formed
• different features of the ocean floor and how the ocean floor is mapped
• how the ocean floor got its shape.

Investigation 1 -- The Properties of Seawater

To learn more about seawater properties, visit the following web sites:

1. The Composition of Seawater 
• Seawater Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan 

Page includes description of the chemical elements in seawater, the dissolved gasses in seawater, and the processes controlling seawater composition. 
(http://www.usask.ca/geology/classes/geol206/geol206rr2.html)
• Seawater Composition, Seafriends 

View a detailed breakdown of the percentages of all major and minor elements in seawater. 
(http://www.seafriends.org.nz/oceano/seawater.htm)
2.  Why is the Ocean Salty? 
• General Characteristics of the World's Oceans-Ocean Salinity, Institute on Climate and Planet, NOAA 

Where is ocean salinity the highest?  This page includes map of ocean salinity around the world and a cross section of ocean salinity versus depth. 
http://icp.giss.nasa.gov/research/oceans/oceanchars/salinity.html)

4. Plants and Animals in the Ocean 

• The Living Sea, Oceans Alive! 

Read about where animals and plants live within different layers of the oceans. 
http://www.mos.org/oceans/life/index.html)

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Investigation 2 --  Ocean Waves

To learn more about ocean waves, visit the following web sites:
 

1. What is a Wave? 
• Waves, Ocean World 

This site includes information about different types of waves, how waves form,  a photo gallery of waves, an interactive quiz, links to real-time Data as well as other useful links. 
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/waves/wavesintro_sm_table.htm)
• How are ocean waves described? NOAA 

Compare ocean waves during calm conditions versus ocean waves during hurricane conditions. 
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/educate/waves.shtml)
• What causes ocean surface waves?  NOAA 

Test your understanding  about how ocean waves form then read the answer. 
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/educate/pacwave.shtml)
• Tsunami!, University of Washington 

Read more about how tsunamis form, tsunamis that have happened in the past, and the warning system for tsunamis that could happen in the future. 
http://www.geophys.washington.edu/tsunami/intro.html)

 

2. The Energy of Ocean Waves 
• Energy Transport and the Amplitude of a Wave, Physics Tutorial 

This page is part of a larger site about waves, wave properties, and behavior of waves.  There are also a few questions at the end of the reading to check your understanding. 
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/waves/u10l2c.html)

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Investigation 3 -- Ocean Currents and Circulation

To learn more about ocean currents and circulation, visit the following web sites: 1. Movement of Heat on the Earth 

• Role of the Ocean in Weather, Ocean World 

Find out more about the connection between ocean deep water currents, surface currents, and climate changes. 
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/weather/index.html)
2. Currents in the Ocean 
• Gulf Stream Temperatures - NASA's Earth Observing System 

Explains this ocean current, which plays an extremely important role in regulating global climate. 
Includes a high-resolution satellite image. 
(http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_edu.pack/p07.html)
• Water on the Move, Oceans Alive! 

Discussion covers tides, waves, and currents. 
(http://www.mos.org/oceans/motion/index.html) 

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Investigation 4 -- Mapping the Ocean Floor

To learn more about the ocean floor, visit the following web sites: 1. Measuring Ocean Depths 

• Sounding Out the Ocean's Secrets,  National Academy of Sciences 

Discusses the history and development of SONAR. 
http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.page.asp?I=226)
2. The Shape of the Ocean Floor 
• Physical Features of the Ocean - Looking at the Sea, Oceans Alive 

(http://www.mos.org/oceans/planet/features.html)
Find out more about features on the ocean floor.  What is the total area of ocean basins?  What and where is the deepest point of all the oceans?  What and how tall is the highest mountain?  Click on your ocean basin of interest to learn more about its physical features: 
• Pacific 
• Atlantic 
• Indian 
• Artic 
• Images of the Seafloor of the US Coast, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory 

Select from an assortment of locations including coast along New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, West Florida, Louisiana, California, and Oregon. 
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/us_margins/)
• Ocean Floor Features, Electric Study Guide 

Test your knowledge of ocean floor features. 
http://www.electricstudyguide.com/samples/Ocean_Floor.htm)

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Investigation 5 -- Changes in the Ocean Floor

  To learn more about Plate Tectonics, visit the following web sites:
 
• When the Earth Moves: Seafloor Spreading and Plate Tectonics, National Academy of Sciences 

Historical account of plate tectonic theory.
http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.article.asp?a=229)
• From Earthquakes to Continental Drift, National Academy of Sciences 

Supporting evidence for the theory of plate tectonics came from the ocean.
http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.page.asp?I=230)
• This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics, USGS 

An account of the development of plate tectonic theory.
(http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html)

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Investigation 6 -- Adaptations to the Ocean

  To learn more about adaptations to the ocean, visit the following web sites: 1. The Ocean Environment

• Year of the Ocean, About.com 

Find more information about fisheries and  marine pollution.
http://environment.miningco.com/newsissues/environment/library/weekly/bloceans.htm)
• Pacific Ocean Environment, Thinkquest 

This site focuses on the marine geology and biology of the Pacific, concentrating on the Hawaiian Islands and surrounding areas. 
(http://library.thinkquest.org/15931/hienvi.html)
2. Adaptations and the Swimming of Fish
• It's Not Going to Win Any Beauty Contests But..The fish that puts the "ugh" in ugly is increasingly popular with biologists. 

Some animals will make any adaptation to survive.  While this article does covers more than just marine animal adaptations, it also mentions the development and importance of a swim bladder for fish. 
http://www.mbl.edu/publications/LABNOTES/6.3/beauty.html)
4. The Food Chain
• Predators and Prey - The Living Sea, Oceans Alive! 

This article gives a bit  more details about marine food chains as well as a suggestion for an additional activity.
(http://www.mos.org/oceans/life/webs.html)
• Fisheries, NOAA 

Learn more about how fisheries  prevent humans for depleting the population into extinction.
(http://www.oar.noaa.gov/k12/html/fisheries.html)

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Investigation 7 -- Investigating a Place in the Ocean

 

>

Great Barrier Reef	Japan Trench	Marianas Trench	Hawaiian Islands	Mid-Atlantic Ridge	Belize Reef	Peru Trench	Bering Strait
3D Map	3D Map	3D Map	3D Map	3D Map	3D Map	3D Map	3D Map
Surface Map	Surface Map	Surface Map	Surface Map	Surface Map	Surface Map	Surface Map	Surface Map

*3D renderings by Peter W. Sloss, NOAA National Geophysical Data Center, from 2-minute (~1.85 km) gridded elevation data
  To learn more about the different ocean locations, visit the following web sites:
 

• The Great Barrier Reef 
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/index.html 
Learn more about issues related to the management and protection of the reef.  Topics covered include: 
• Conservation Biodiversity and World Heritage 
• Tourism and Recreation 
• Water Quality and Coast Development 
• Fisheries 
• Japan Trench 
• Seafloor Topography of the Plate Boundaries & Seismicity, Japan Coast Guard 

http://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/jhd-E.html
View several different images of the Japan Trench 
• Realtime Tidal Observation Data, Japan Coast Guard 

http://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/ENGAN/real_time_tide/htm/select/english/kck_mainEG.htm
Includes links for data around the Japanese islands. 
• Earth: Out of the Arc, Nature 

http://www.nature.com/nsu/000907/000907-2.html 
Learn about the connection between the Japan Trench and the volcanoes in the region. 
• Japan: Hazard Zone and Land of Mountains, Northwestern University 

http://www.letus.northwestern.edu/projects/esp/top10/japanpage/Japan.html 
Read another article about the connection between the Japan Trench and earthquakes and volcanoes in the region. 
• Marianas Trench 
• Marianas Trench Dive, NOAA 

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/marianas.html 
Take a virtual trip through the deepest point in the ocean. 
• Deepest Place in the Ocean - Challenger Deep, Extreme Science 

http://www.extremescience.com/DeepestOcean.htm 
Challenger Deep is the name given to the deepest point in the Marianas Trench.  Find out more how it got its name and how it formed. 
• Have scientists determined the depth of the Marianas Trench yet? 

http://www.utdallas.edu/dept/sci_ed/Melville/depth-of-Marianas-trench.htm 
Learn the answer from a geologist from the University of Hawaii. 
• Hawaiian Islands 
• Pacific Sea Floor Mapping - Hawaiian Islands, USGS 

http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/pacmaps/hw_index.html 
Pick a Hawaiian Island and choose from three different map views of the island and seafloor. 
• "Hotspots:" Mantle Thermal Plumes, USGS 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/hotspots.html 
Read about the formation of the Hawaiian Islands. 
• Lo'ihi Seamount, Hawai`i's Youngest Submarine Volcano, USGS 

http://wwwhvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanoes/loihi/ 
The youngest Hawaiian island that is already 931m above the seafloor.  Check out this site and see an image of this young volcano. 
• Mid-Atlantic Ridge 
• Atlantic Ocean, Oceanographer of the Navy 

http://oceanographer.navy.mil/atlantic.html 
Topics covered on this page include ocean bottom, water chacteristics, climate, and history and economy. 
• The Mid-Ocean Ridge, by Kenneth C. Macdonald and Paul J. Fox, UC Santa Barbara 

http://www.geol.ucsb.edu/~ken/
This article includes a detailed discussion of the geology of the Mid-Ocean Ridge and incorporates several diagrams and images. 
• Belize Reef 
• Belize Barrier Reef 

http://www.westminster.edu/staff/athrock/BELIZE/Reef.html 
This study reviews the diversity, utilization, and threats to the Belize Barrier Reef. 
• Belize Reef Tract, NOAA 

http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/DAAC_DOCS/geomorphology/GEO_6/GEO_PLATE_C-17.HTML 
This page includes a description of the barrier reef as well as some black and white images and a Landsat image of the reef. 
• Peru Trench 
• Overview of Central Andean Topography, Cornell University 

http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/chile/overview/c_andes.html 
Compare two maps of the Chile-Peru Trench, one labeled and one blank. 
• Map of Earthquake Frequency Along the Peru Trench 

http://quake.geo.berkeley.edu/cnss/maps/depth/south_america/soam.html 
• Largest Earthquakes in the World, USGS 

http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/WORLD/1960_05_22.html 
Where was the largest earthquake since 1900?  Read about the worst earthquake since 1900 centered in Chile through a series of short descriptions. 
• Bering Strait 
• Whales and Walrus: Tillers of the Seafloor, USGS 

This article summarizes a study done for potential impacts to gray whales and walruses of drilling for oil in the Bering Strait. 
http://marine.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/whales/ 
• Bering Strait, NASA 

A view of the Bering Strait from space. 
http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/HPDOCS/misr/misr_html/BeringStraitGallery.html 
• Under the Sea - At the Top of the World, NavyLeague 

Ever wondered how scientists learn about what the seafloor looks like below the ice?  This article describes one expedition to the Artic through the Bering Strait. 
http://www.navyleague.org/seapower/under_the_sea.htm 

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Resources:

Web Sites:

• "New Images of the Seafloor off the US Coast" - Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 

Images of coastal topography.
(http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/us_margins/)
• SeaWiFS Image Gallery  

Satellite photos. Including biological ocean "blooms", thermal images of upwelling, and ocean storms.
http://www.soils.org/sssagloss/index.html)
• Classic CZCS Scenes 

Coastal Zone Color Scanner images show a great deal about biological productivity and currents in the  ocean. This tutorial shows the range of information that can be gleaned.
(http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/OCDST/classic_scenes/00_classics_index.html) 
• Oceanography from the Space Shuttle  

Selection of oceanographic images, taken by NASA astronauts. 
(http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/OCDST/shuttle_oceanography_web/oss_contents.html) 
• National Data Buoy Center- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

 

Maps:

• Geologic maps:

  
  State and local:
 
• The United States Geological Survey National Geologic Map Database contains information on how and where to obtain geologic maps. (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/) 
• Your state Geological Survey - find your state survey on-line at Association of American State Geologists (http://www.kgs.ukans.edu/AASG/AASG.html). 
• Download state geologic maps at About.com's site.  (http://geology.about.com/science/geology/cs/geomapsusstates/) 
• Reading Geologic Maps - informative review on how to read and interpret geologic maps.  (http://geology.about.com/science/geology/library/weekly/aa100800a.htm) 

 

• Geologic maps: Regional

  (two or more states): 
• The on-line bookstore of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (http://bookstore.AAPG.org; 918-584-2555) 

• Topographic maps: Local

 
• The United States Geological Survey MapFinder allows you to order 7.5 minute maps online for $4 per map plus $5 s/h per order. (http://edc.usgs.gov/Webglis/glisbin/finder_main.pl?dataset_name=MAPS_LARGE) 
• The United States Geological Survey maintains a list of Map Dealers.  Click on your state to obtain a list of retailers who sell maps. (http://mapping.usgs.gov/esic/map_dealers/) 
• The United States Geological Survey National Geologic Map Database site on How to find topographic maps (http://ngmsvr.wr.usgs.gov/Other_Resources/rdb_topo.html) 
• TopoZone site allows you to download topographic maps (including USGS maps) for free, at various scales (from 1:100,000 to 1:24,000).  (http://www.topozone.com/) 
• MapServer offers free online viewing of topo, nautical and aeronautical charts plus high altitude digital ortho quads (nav photos). (www.maptech.com and www.mapserver.maptech.com) 
• General Map Resources:
 
• An excellent list of map resources available online can be found on the Central Michigan University Resources for Earth Science and Geography Instruction web site.  Included are links to sites to make maps, as well as links to free downloadable outline maps, satellite imagery, GPS, and GIS databases. (http://personal.cmich.edu/~franc1m/locamap.htm) 
• "Maps" - USGS Earth Science Information Center, includes general map information, from how to read maps to how to obtain them.  Also includes links to further information regarding topographic, thematic, planetary maps, and more. (http://ask.usgs.gov/maps.html) 
• National Geographic (maps and videos): 1-800-962-1643 (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/index.html) 
• "Maps of the United States" - USGS fact sheet, contains a series of depictions of the United States, along with information on how to obtain additional US maps. (http://www.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/maps-us/index.html) 
• "Maps of the World" - USGS fact sheet, contains a series of world maps, including outline maps, seismicity maps, and political maps.  Also contains information for ordering more specific world maps. (http://www.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/maps-world/maps-world.html) 
• "National Atlas Maps" - USGS site of a variety of US maps that are available online, including shaded relief maps, aquifer maps, and further information on how to order maps not available online.  (http://www-atlas.usgs.gov/atlasmap.html?) 

Online Map Creation 
http://www.aquarius.geomar.de/omc/omc_intro.html 
Create a map using this input form (http://www.aquarius.geomar.de/omc/make_map.html).  You can select from a  variety of features including whether the topography or bathymetry of your selected region. 
• National Geographic Map Machine 

For a wide variety of thematic maps, click on "Dynamic Maps" or "Atlas Maps". Enter a location you wish to search for, and select from any number of themes, ranging from elevation to ocean floor. (You may need to click on "Select a New Theme" or "Related Atlas Maps" to find the theme you are looking for.) 
(http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/maps/) 

• City of Coral, NOVA Video 
Shows why Caribbean coral reefs are some of the most biologically diverse locations on Earth.

• Volcanoes of the Deep, NOVA Video 
Fascinating look at the geological and ecological marvels of an undersea volcano

• Treasures of the Great Barrier Reef, NOVA Video 
A look at Australia's amazing coral reef, the largest in the world.

• Eyewitness Video: Ocean (1997)  
Discusses the history of humankind's relationship with the ocean, from the history of sailing to modern day knowledge of  the ocean's role in regulating climate.

• The Oceans, Ellen J. Prager, Sylvia A. Earle 
McGraw-Hill, (2000), ISBN: 0071352538 
Chronological study of the oceans, arranged by geologic eras (Paleozoic, Cenozoic, etc.) 

• Mapping the Deep: The Extraordinary Story of Ocean Science, Robert Kunzig 
W.W. Norton & Company (2000), ISBN:0393320634 
Well-rounded tome, covering both geological and biological perspectives of oceanography. 

• Encyclopedia of the Sea, Richard Ellis 
Knopf (2000), ISBN: 0375403744 
Easy-to-read reference on virtually every imaginable aspect of the ocean 

• Deep-Ocean Journeys : Discovering New Life at the Bottom of the Sea, Cindy Lee Van Dover 
Perseus Press (1997), ISBN: 0201154986 
Focuses on the biology of the deep oceans, compiled from the author's diving experience and other research. 

• DISCOVER, March 1999, "Drugs From the Sea", (Rosie Mestel) 
Discusses an area of active marine research: Marine Pharmacology.

• DISCOVER, November 1993, "Oceans Divided", (Kathy A. Svitil)  
Discusses plate tectonics and the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, a seminal event in "recent" geologic history.

• Scientific American, August 1998, Special Issue, "The Oceans" 
Includes articles on seafloor topography ("The Oceans Revealed"), the origins of water on earth, the effect of
global warming on earth's oceans, the role of the oceans in regulating climate and weather, and more.

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