Table of Contents
Understanding the Coriolis Effect
Modeling the Coriolis effect
Exploring Convection Currents Lab Activity
Waves: Bill Nye
Ocean Waves Worksheet
NOAA: Tides
Tides Explanation Video
Chasing El Nino
A study of the Central North Pacific Gyre
Do ocean currents influence climate?
Understanding the Coriolis Effect
The Coriolis Effect Defined: What in the World is it?
Since the Earth is a sphere it spins fastest at the equator. Thus, the land under the air masses leaving the poles speeds up as the air goes towards it. Because of this, air masses appear to lean leftwards in the Southern hemisphere and rightwards in the Northern one.
Warm Air Rises and Cold Air Falls- Why?
They do this because of density.
What is the general pattern of wind currents on the globe?
Air warms, expands and rises at the equator, then cools, contracts and sinks once it reaches the poles.
What is a convection current?
In a convection current, hot air rises, becomes cool and sinks downwards, and then heats back up and rises again. This forms a sort of cycle
Global circulation is driven by which two processes?
Uneven solar heating and the rotation of the Earth.
Notes: Density
Temperature and water vapor change air density; warm air is less dense than cold air, as is humid with dry.
Pressure
At the Earth's surface air molecules are tightly packed, and they become less densely packed and cooler. Cool air masses hold less water than warm ones. They then sink downwards, and afterwards and become less dense and heat up.
Putting it All Together:
The air currents of the world do not go in one great circle from pole to pole, but in three in each hemisphere. These are called cells.
Define and explain: Hadley Cells
Hadley cells exist between the equator and the 30 degrees latitude lines. The air in them loses moisture by rainfall at the equator, then rises up before falling back down at 30 degrees north or south. The Coriolis effect makes them blow Eastern winds, called the trade winds.
Ferrel Cells
These cells exist between the 30 and 50 degree latitude lines. The air is made by the Coriolis effect to blow Westernly winds
Polar Cells
These cells exist in between the 50 latitude lines and the poles. They go toward the equator till they get enough heat and moisture to rise, then they blow towards the poles.
Horse Latitudes
These exist in intersections between Hadley and Ferrel cells. They have high atmospheric pressure and little surface winds.
Doldrums
These exist in between two Hadley cells, at the equator. They
have calm equatorial winds.
Quiz: Complete Online Quiz
The Coriolis Effect Defined: What in the World is it?
Since the Earth is a sphere it spins fastest at the equator. Thus, the land under the air masses leaving the poles speeds up as the air goes towards it. Because of this, air masses appear to lean leftwards in the Southern hemisphere and rightwards in the Northern one.
Warm Air Rises and Cold Air Falls- Why?
They do this because of density.
What is the general pattern of wind currents on the globe?
Air warms, expands and rises at the equator, then cools, contracts and sinks once it reaches the poles.
What is a convection current?
In a convection current, hot air rises, becomes cool and sinks downwards, and then heats back up and rises again. This forms a sort of cycle
Global circulation is driven by which two processes?
Uneven solar heating and the rotation of the Earth.
Notes: Density
Temperature and water vapor change air density; warm air is less dense than cold air, as is humid with dry.
Pressure
At the Earth's surface air molecules are tightly packed, and they become less densely packed and cooler. Cool air masses hold less water than warm ones. They then sink downwards, and afterwards and become less dense and heat up.
Putting it All Together:
The air currents of the world do not go in one great circle from pole to pole, but in three in each hemisphere. These are called cells.
Define and explain: Hadley Cells
Hadley cells exist between the equator and the 30 degrees latitude lines. The air in them loses moisture by rainfall at the equator, then rises up before falling back down at 30 degrees north or south. The Coriolis effect makes them blow Eastern winds, called the trade winds.
Ferrel Cells
These cells exist between the 30 and 50 degree latitude lines. The air is made by the Coriolis effect to blow Westernly winds
Polar Cells
These cells exist in between the 50 latitude lines and the poles. They go toward the equator till they get enough heat and moisture to rise, then they blow towards the poles.
Horse Latitudes
These exist in intersections between Hadley and Ferrel cells. They have high atmospheric pressure and little surface winds.
Doldrums
These exist in between two Hadley cells, at the equator. They
have calm equatorial winds.
Quiz: Complete Online Quiz
Modeling the Coriolis Effect
In this lab, we modeled the Coriolis effect to see how it actually worked.
In the Coriolis effect, a plane, or something similar, that travels straight north-south appears to have gone west, but this is really just the Earth spinning. To model this, we took a balloon, wrote a "map" of the world on it, and tried to draw a line straight up and down, from the North and South poles, and answered questions about what happened.
1. As you look down from the North pole toward the equator, which way is the Earth spinning and why?
It spins clockwise, because that is how something spinning east appears from the top of it.
2. As you look up from the South pole towards the equator, which way is the Earth spinning and why?
3. What happened when you tried to draw a straight line from the North pole to the equator? Why?
The line curved to the left this way because the Coriolis effect makes everything appear to go westward. And west is left when you are standing in the northern hemisphere standing northward.
4. What happened when you tried to do the same with the south pole?
We flipped it upside down to spin it, and the line curved rightward. This is because the Coriolis effect makes things look like they curve westward and west is right when facing southward in the southern hemisphere.
5. Predict what would happen if you repeated this with the Earth spinning in the opposite direction.
The lines would curve eastward.
In this lab, we modeled the Coriolis effect to see how it actually worked.
In the Coriolis effect, a plane, or something similar, that travels straight north-south appears to have gone west, but this is really just the Earth spinning. To model this, we took a balloon, wrote a "map" of the world on it, and tried to draw a line straight up and down, from the North and South poles, and answered questions about what happened.
1. As you look down from the North pole toward the equator, which way is the Earth spinning and why?
It spins clockwise, because that is how something spinning east appears from the top of it.
2. As you look up from the South pole towards the equator, which way is the Earth spinning and why?
3. What happened when you tried to draw a straight line from the North pole to the equator? Why?
The line curved to the left this way because the Coriolis effect makes everything appear to go westward. And west is left when you are standing in the northern hemisphere standing northward.
4. What happened when you tried to do the same with the south pole?
We flipped it upside down to spin it, and the line curved rightward. This is because the Coriolis effect makes things look like they curve westward and west is right when facing southward in the southern hemisphere.
5. Predict what would happen if you repeated this with the Earth spinning in the opposite direction.
The lines would curve eastward.
Exploring Convection Currents Lab Activity
Waves: Bill Nye
Ocean Waves Worksheet
Picture for #1
Picture for #3
Picture for #4-#5
Picture for #6
Picture for #7
Picture for #9
Picture for #10
Picture for #11
Picture for #1
NOAA: Tides
1: What are tides?
The regular, alternating rise and fall of the sea level.
2: What causes tides? Explain in detail (show diagram)
The gravitational forces of the moon and sun, and the rotation of the Earth tug on seawater and cause it to form into two enormous bulges one either side of the planet, one facing the moon and the other in the opposite direction. These form the basis for the tides.
3: Where do tides occur?
They occur in the ocean.
The regular, alternating rise and fall of the sea level.
2: What causes tides? Explain in detail (show diagram)
The gravitational forces of the moon and sun, and the rotation of the Earth tug on seawater and cause it to form into two enormous bulges one either side of the planet, one facing the moon and the other in the opposite direction. These form the basis for the tides.
3: Where do tides occur?
They occur in the ocean.
4: Explain- High and low tides (difference)
High tide is where the sea level floods to its highest level, and low tide is where it ebbs to its lowest level.
5: Which object exerts the most force on the tidal bulge? Why?
The moon exerts the most force because even though it is much smaller, it is also very close to the earth
6: What happens when the sun and moon align? What happens when they are perpendicular to each other?
When they are aligned, their gravity combines to form the largest tides, spring tides, and when they are perpendicular, they form moderate neap tides.
7: What are some of the other factors that affect tides?
Seafloor topography, river discharge and wind and weather conditions
8: What are the zones of the intertidal zone?
The spray zone, the upper intertidal zone, the mid intertidal zone, and the low intertidal zone.
9: What are some of the challenges for the critters of the intertidal zone? Explain.
They have to live without water for periods of hours to sometimes weeks, and endure temperature extremes, sunlight, and salinities. They must also escape predation.
10: How do the intertidal organisms COPE with the harsh environment?
Often organisms develop tough outsides to hold water and prevent waterloss, scrunch together to prevent exposure to sunlight, secrete mucus to use when outside water, close up their shells tightly, hide underneath rocks or in the sand, and/or cement themselves to rocks, sand or each other to protect against waves.
11: What are some of the adaptations that help organisms cope with wave action?
Strong skeletons, hard shells, grippers, hard skin, thick shells, firm roots, flexible stems, sturdy bodies, strong muscles, etc.
High tide is where the sea level floods to its highest level, and low tide is where it ebbs to its lowest level.
5: Which object exerts the most force on the tidal bulge? Why?
The moon exerts the most force because even though it is much smaller, it is also very close to the earth
6: What happens when the sun and moon align? What happens when they are perpendicular to each other?
When they are aligned, their gravity combines to form the largest tides, spring tides, and when they are perpendicular, they form moderate neap tides.
7: What are some of the other factors that affect tides?
Seafloor topography, river discharge and wind and weather conditions
8: What are the zones of the intertidal zone?
The spray zone, the upper intertidal zone, the mid intertidal zone, and the low intertidal zone.
9: What are some of the challenges for the critters of the intertidal zone? Explain.
They have to live without water for periods of hours to sometimes weeks, and endure temperature extremes, sunlight, and salinities. They must also escape predation.
10: How do the intertidal organisms COPE with the harsh environment?
Often organisms develop tough outsides to hold water and prevent waterloss, scrunch together to prevent exposure to sunlight, secrete mucus to use when outside water, close up their shells tightly, hide underneath rocks or in the sand, and/or cement themselves to rocks, sand or each other to protect against waves.
11: What are some of the adaptations that help organisms cope with wave action?
Strong skeletons, hard shells, grippers, hard skin, thick shells, firm roots, flexible stems, sturdy bodies, strong muscles, etc.
Do: Predicting the Tides
Answer the questions with the animations- post on your website with diagrams and descriptions
How much time passes between one high tide and the next?
Twelve hours and 25 minutes, or one half of a lunar day.
A lunar day is the time it takes for a spot on Earth directly beneath the moon to rotate once until the moon until the moon is overhead again.
Answer the questions with the animations- post on your website with diagrams and descriptions
How much time passes between one high tide and the next?
Twelve hours and 25 minutes, or one half of a lunar day.
A lunar day is the time it takes for a spot on Earth directly beneath the moon to rotate once until the moon until the moon is overhead again.
How much time passes between low tide and the next high tide?
A quarter of a lunar day, or 6 hours and 12.5 minutes.
A quarter of a lunar day, or 6 hours and 12.5 minutes.
Explain how spring and neap tides are created.The tides are made by the pull of the sun and moon. When they are aligned, their gravitational pulls reinforce one another, and create huge tidal bulges, called spring tides. When they are at 90 degrees from each other, their pulls work against each other by pulling in different directions, and they create smaller tides, called neap tides.
How many spring and neap tides occur each month? Why?
Twice a month for each. This is because since the moon goes around the Earth once a month and is thus aligned with or perpendicular to the sun four times, with one of each.
Twice a month for each. This is because since the moon goes around the Earth once a month and is thus aligned with or perpendicular to the sun four times, with one of each.
Why does the distance from the earth to the moon or the sun affect the tides?
The closer the sun or moon is to the earth, the stronger their gravitational pull is. A greater gravitational pull creates bigger tides.
When will lunar tides be higher, at perigee or apogee? How often does each occur?
They will be higher at perigee, where the moon is closest to Earth, and lower at apogee, where it is farthest from Earth. Both of these happen once a month.
When will solar tides be higher, at perihelion or aphelion? How often does each occur?
They will be higher at perihelion, where the sun is closest to the Earth, and lower at aphelion, where the sun is farthest from Earth. Both of these happen once a year.
The closer the sun or moon is to the earth, the stronger their gravitational pull is. A greater gravitational pull creates bigger tides.
When will lunar tides be higher, at perigee or apogee? How often does each occur?
They will be higher at perigee, where the moon is closest to Earth, and lower at apogee, where it is farthest from Earth. Both of these happen once a month.
When will solar tides be higher, at perihelion or aphelion? How often does each occur?
They will be higher at perihelion, where the sun is closest to the Earth, and lower at aphelion, where the sun is farthest from Earth. Both of these happen once a year.
Do: Life in the Intertidal Zone
Answer the questions with the animations- post on your website with diagrams and descriptions.
How does the abundance and diversity of life change across the various intertidal zones?
Life is very diverse and abundant in the lower intertidal, but both of these decrease as you go higher, closer to the spray zone. Diversity and abundance are lowest at the spray zone.
Describe how the physical stresses on life vary from the top of the intertidal zone to the bottom.
Organisms at the top of the zone have to cope with high temperature and dryness because they spend more time without water, while those in the lower part of the zone have to cope with waves since they are near the surf zone.
How are these stresses reflected in the types of animals that inhabit the intertidal subzones?
Often organisms develop tough outsides to hold water and prevent waterloss, scrunch together to prevent exposure to sunlight, secrete mucus to use when outside water, close up their shells tightly, hide underneath rocks or in the sand, and/or cement themselves to rocks, sand or each other to protect against waves, like the mussels above.
Living conditions in the intertidal zone are difficult, yet most of it is abundantly populated. What are some of the benefits of intertidal living?
Less competition for food and space for animals, and greater opportunity for photosynthesis for plants.
Answer the questions with the animations- post on your website with diagrams and descriptions.
How does the abundance and diversity of life change across the various intertidal zones?
Life is very diverse and abundant in the lower intertidal, but both of these decrease as you go higher, closer to the spray zone. Diversity and abundance are lowest at the spray zone.
Describe how the physical stresses on life vary from the top of the intertidal zone to the bottom.
Organisms at the top of the zone have to cope with high temperature and dryness because they spend more time without water, while those in the lower part of the zone have to cope with waves since they are near the surf zone.
How are these stresses reflected in the types of animals that inhabit the intertidal subzones?
Often organisms develop tough outsides to hold water and prevent waterloss, scrunch together to prevent exposure to sunlight, secrete mucus to use when outside water, close up their shells tightly, hide underneath rocks or in the sand, and/or cement themselves to rocks, sand or each other to protect against waves, like the mussels above.
Living conditions in the intertidal zone are difficult, yet most of it is abundantly populated. What are some of the benefits of intertidal living?
Less competition for food and space for animals, and greater opportunity for photosynthesis for plants.
Global Impact
What is the global impact of tides? Explain.
Tidal currents redistribute heat and nutrients and regulate climate by mixing up the water after they bounce off seafloor ridges and shelves,
and power half of all ocean circulation.
What are some of the challenges on coastal areas because of tides?
Tides can worsen damage done by tsunamis and storms by helping flooding, and obstruct the building of marinas, oil rigs, ports, etc
Explain how electricity can be generated by currents and tidal power.
Electricity can be generated by using the tides' up and down motion, and by their sideways flow.
What is the global impact of tides? Explain.
Tidal currents redistribute heat and nutrients and regulate climate by mixing up the water after they bounce off seafloor ridges and shelves,
and power half of all ocean circulation.
What are some of the challenges on coastal areas because of tides?
Tides can worsen damage done by tsunamis and storms by helping flooding, and obstruct the building of marinas, oil rigs, ports, etc
Explain how electricity can be generated by currents and tidal power.
Electricity can be generated by using the tides' up and down motion, and by their sideways flow.
Tides Explanation Video
Me and my group had top create a video explaining all about tides. The two parts of that video are below: