SUBJECT - THE ATMOSPHERE


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Local Weather and the Ocean - COSEE Coastal Trends


Lesson Plan 

Summary
Students investigate the influence of the ocean on local weather by comparing temperatures in coastal and inland locations.

Concept: Ocean, weather, and climate
The ocean controls weather and climate.

Education Standards




The Water Cycle and Global Warming - BioEd Online


Lesson Plan 

Summary
Students trace the effects of global temperature change on oceanic surface levels through model and laboratory investigations.

Concept: Water cycle
The ocean plays a major role in the water cycle, which drives changes in weather and climate.

Education Standards




What is climate? - Exploring Earth, TERC, McDougal Littell


Lesson Plan 

Summary
In this interactive website, students follow prompts to explore the various factors that control global and local climate.

Concept: Climate cycles
Changes in ocean circulation patterns affect weather and climate.

Education Standards




Hurricane Tracking - COSEE Coastal Trends


Lesson Plan 

Summary
Students select a named hurricane and plot its course using latitude and longitude data provided by National Hurricane Center reports to illustrate the concept that hurricanes originate in and travel across the ocean. Students also conduct research on the formation of their selected hurricane and the amount of damage it caused.

Concept: Ocean, weather, and climate
The ocean controls weather and climate.

Education Standards




Hurricanes and Climate - Windows to the Universe


Lesson Plan 

Summary
Students use maps and data to learn about the connections between hurricanes and climate, including regional climate conditions, where hurricanes form and how global climate change may be affecting hurricanes.

Concept: Water cycle
The ocean plays a major role in the water cycle, which drives changes in weather and climate.

Education Standards




Your Own El Nino - NOAA Education


Lesson Plan 

Summary
Students use a model that recreates trade winds and upwelling to illustrate the changes in circulation that are associated with the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

Concept: Climate cycles
Changes in ocean circulation patterns affect weather and climate.

Education Standards




Top to Bottom - NOAA Ocean Explorer


Lesson Plan 

Summary
Students explore the possible impacts on deep sea ecosystems associated with changes in thermohaline circulation resulting from climate change.

Concept: Global climate change
Ocean processes have major effects on global climate change; global climate change could have major impacts on the ocean.

Education Standards




Where have all the glaciers gone? - NOAA Ocean Explorer


Lesson Plan 

Summary
Students investigate how changes in climate are affecting sea-ice, vegetation, and glaciers in the arctic, region.  Students explore the “positive” and “negative” results of these changes.

Concept: Global climate change
Ocean processes have major effects on global climate change; global climate change could have major impacts on the ocean.

Education Standards