How Do Higher Temperatures Affect the Water Cycle?

This demonstration shows that an increase in temperature will speed up the water cycle. One outcome will be an increase in rainfall. A second outcome will be the increase in total evaporation of water and subsequent drought. Materials required include two aquariums, plastic wrap, 2 clamp lamps with 60 watt light bulbs, pebbles and rocks, modeling clay, blue food coloring, and water. Student worksheets, background information for teachers, and a scoring rubric are included. This is Activity 2 in Too Many Blankets, a module in the lesson series, Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change.

Material Type: Lesson Plan, Simulation

Virtual Urchin: Interactive Module on Ocean Acidification

Interactive online tutorial about growing urchin larvae in a lab setting. Students manipulate data and are led through a lab-based situation. There is a module on ocean acidification. Lesson plans can be downloaded from website.

Material Type: Interactive, Lesson Plan, Simulation

Author: Stanford University: Dr. David Epel and others

Coastal Processes, Hazards and Society

Has your attention recently been caught by news of coastal catastrophes such as hurricanes and tsunamis? Do you wonder why so many coastal communities in the world are vulnerable to flooding and other coastal hazards? Have you considered what coastal flood protections cities like Houston and Miami will need in the future to protect their residents? This course will provide a better understanding of these phenomena. We present a global perspective of coastal landscapes, the geologic processes responsible for their formation, and ways that society responds to hazards like sea level rise and catastrophic weather events. You will participate in active learning exercises such as analyzing real-world datasets and applying critical thinking to real-world societal problems while investigating a coastal community.

Material Type: Full Course

Authors: Brent Yarnal, Dinah Maygarden, Tim Bralower

Controversies in the Earth Sciences

Think science has all the answers? Think again. This course will use real, authentic data to explore and investigate modern controversies in Earth Sciences. Use tide gauge records to understand how countries around the world attempt to protect themselves from tsunami events. Process seismic data to predict earthquake recurrence in the New Madrid seismic zone, right here in the breadbasket of the US. Sort through the millions of years of the geologic timeline to shed some light on what actually did, and did not, kill the dinosaurs. Finally, use global atmospheric data to understand how misrepresentation of data can be used to paint a distorted view of past, present, and future climate.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Eliza Richardson

Essentials of Oceanography

The year is 2050 and your once-idyllic beachfront vacation home is now flooded up to the second story. The crab your family has enjoyed every Christmas for as long as you can remember has now become an endangered species. The oceans have changed. In Earth 540, Oceanography for Educators, we explore the mechanisms that lead to sea level rise and ocean acidification. We strive to understand how natural processes such as ocean currents, the gulf-stream, tides, plate tectonics, and the Coriolis Effect, affect our oceans and ocean basins. We then predict how man-made issues such as climate change and overfishing will affect our beloved waters and our livelihoods. Want to see into the future? Then this course is for you!

Material Type: Full Course

Authors: Chris Marone, Mike Arthur

GS 108 - Oceanography

Moodle shell with example syllabus and links to Earth Rocks! videos produced by Katryn Wiese, Earth Sciences Department, City College of San Francisco. Course description: introductory lab science course that examines the four major categories of oceanographic study: geological, physical, chemical and biological. Emphasizes the geological and geophysical aspects of the sea floor; physical and chemical properties of sea water, waves, tides, ocean circulation and currents; marine ecosystems; and ocean utilization.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Katharine Solada

Paleoceanography

This class examines tools, data, and ideas related to past climate changes as seen in marine, ice core, and continental records. The most recent climate changes (mainly the past 500,000 years, ranging up to about 2 million years ago) will be emphasized. Quantitative tools for the examination of paleoceanographic data will be introduced (statistics, factor analysis, time series analysis, simple climatology).

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Boyle, Edward

Antarctic Ice: Sea Level Change

What would happen if a portion of the Antarctic Ice Sheet were to melt? This video segment adapted from NOVA uses animations to show the effect of a 6-meter sea-level rise on coastal cities across the world.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Diagram/Illustration

Authors: National Science Foundation, WGBH Educational Foundation

Blue Shark Adventure

In this video, Jonathan joins Charlie Donilon on his shark charter boat in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and learns about how shark tagging has shed light on the biology of and behavior of Blue sharks. Tagging has shown that these incredible swimmers actually migrate completely across the Atlantic ocean. Jonathan tries his hand at tagging a shark and then swims with Blue sharks. We also learn that Blue sharks are not nearly as vicious as they have been reputed to be, and the divers are actually able to pet the sharks! Please see the accompanying study guide for educational objectives and discussion points.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Diagram/Illustration, Lesson Plan

Authors: Jonathan Bird Productions, Oceanic Research Group

Changes in Salinity Due to Glacier Movement

This activity requires construction of a simple salinity tester. Students will create their own calibration scale during this experiment, and look at the change in salinity that would arise if freshwater was suddenly dumped into the ocean. Materials needed for this investigation include a DC mill ampere meter, 2 D-cell batteries and holder, bronze sheeting, #18 solid wire, salt, deionized water, and a stream table or pan apparatus to create a hydrologic model of ice-ocean interaction. Included is a student worksheet to guide interpretation of data. The resource is supported by teacher background information, assessment suggestions, and a scoring rubric. This is Activity 3 of the learning module, Water: Here, There, and Everywhere, part of the lesson series, The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Density: Sea Water Mixing and Sinking

These two hands-on labs are about the role of temperature and salinity in governing the density of seawater, a major factor controlling the ocean's vertical movements and layered circulation. In the first activity students work in groups to determine the density of tap water and of tap water with salt, then compare the densities. The second activity investigates the role of temperature and salinity in determining seawater density. Students use a Temperature-Salinity (T-S) Diagram to examine the effect of mixing on density. A list of key concepts, essential questions, common preconceptions and more is included. These are part of the Aquarius Hands-on Laboratory Activities.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

All Things Flow: Fluid Mechanics in the Natural Sciences

This book began as lecture notes for an Oregon State University course in fluid mechanics, designed for beginning graduate students in physical oceanography. Because of its fundamental nature, this course is often taken by students outside physical oceanography, e.g., atmospheric science, civil engineering, physics and mathematics. In later courses, the student will discover esoteric fluid phenomena such as internal waves that propagate through the sky, water phase changes that govern clouds, and planetary rotation effects that control large-scale winds and ocean currents. In contrast, this course concerns phenomena that we have all been familiar with since childhood: flows you see in sinks and bathtubs, in rivers, and at the beach. In this context, we develop the mathematical techniques and scientific reasoning skills needed for higher-level courses and professional research. Prerequisites are few: basic linear algebra, differential and integral calculus and Newton’s laws of motion. As we go along we discover the need for the more advanced tools of tensor analysis.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: W.D. Smyth

Essentials of Oceanography

The year is 2050 and your once-idyllic beachfront vacation home is now flooded up to the second story. The crab your family has enjoyed every Christmas for as long as you can remember has now become an endangered species. The oceans have changed. In Earth 540, Oceanography for Educators, we explore the mechanisms that lead to sea level rise and ocean acidification. We strive to understand how natural processes such as ocean currents, the gulf-stream, tides, plate tectonics, and the Coriolis Effect, affect our oceans and ocean basins. We then predict how man-made issues such as climate change and overfishing will affect our beloved waters and our livelihoods. Want to see into the future? Then this course is for you!

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Eliza Richardson

Introduction to Oceanography

Introduction to Oceanography is a textbook appropriate to an introductory-level university course in oceanography. The book covers the fundamental geological, chemical, physical and biological processes in the ocean, with an emphasis on the North Atlantic region.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Paul Webb

Introduction to Physical Oceanography

This book is written for upper-division undergraduates and new graduate students in meteorology, ocean engineering, and oceanography. After reading this book, it expected that students will be able to describe physical processes influencing the ocean and coastal regions: the interaction of the ocean with the atmosphere, and the distribution of oceanic winds, currents, heat fluxes, and water masses.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Robert Stewart

Oceanography 101 (Miracosta)

This textbook outlines the major processes and features of the world's oceans. Content starts with a review of important fundamentals of the natural and physical science related to oceanography. Following chapters focus on Earth history and evolution of life through time.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Miracosta College

Introduction to Physical Geography OER Course

GEO 131: Introduction to Physical Geography is an OER course that provides a comprehensive overview of Earth's natural systems and the forces that shape its physical landscape. Students will explore key topics such as weather, climate, hydrology, ecology, geology, and tectonics. Through both lectures and hands-on lab exercises, students will examine the processes of volcanism, erosion, soil formation, and glaciation, and learn to apply geographic theories to real-world issues. The course emphasizes understanding the distribution of natural features and the scientific principles that explain Earth's physical geography.

Material Type: Full Course

Authors: Linda Neff, Duane Marshall, Duane Marshall

Geography Remote Sensing Class Activities

Geography Remote Sensing Class Activities GEOG 286 : REMOTE SENSING DESCRIPTION Introduces students to the theory and methods of remote sensing through use of satellite imagery. Practical exercises involve use of SPOT, LANDSAT and Quickbird images with ArcGIS/Imagine Analysis software. Digital analysis is discussed and performed including preprocessing, image classification and image evaluation. Intended for students enrolled in the second year of GIS or UAS programs, or similar academic preparation (see program director for details). LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Demonstrate knowledge and apply skills essential to the discipline. 2. Apply GIS skills necessary to provide geospatial and thematic data. 3. Apply critical thinking and problem solving skill that reflect best practice. 4. Coordinate and manage the delivery of reliable, valid, GIS data including analysis and specialized user needs products. 5. Communicate effectively and appropriately within a professional setting in both written and oral form.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Homework/Assignment, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Patrick Kennelly

Manual Land Cover Mapping Protocol

The purpose of the resource is to produce a land cover type map from hard copies of Landsat satellite images.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Diagram/Illustration, Homework/Assignment, Interactive, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: The GLOBE Program, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)

Physical Geology Lecture Tutorials (2nd edition) – Haroldson Research Group

These “Lecture Tutorials” are designed as illustrative review of individual lectures, followed with a series of questions aimed at addressing student misconceptions. 'Think Deeper' sections Foster personal connections to subject matter, and promote discussion. The general idea is that you lecture for 15-20 minutes, the students work through the lecture tutorials for 15-20 minutes, then the class discusses the answers together. These offer a consistent active learning formative assessment, and also act as study guides for students.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Diagram/Illustration, Full Course, Homework/Assignment, Lecture Notes, Student Guide

Author: Erik L. Haroldson