EARTH’S OCEAN

HAND OUT

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

ACTIVITY: “HOLD YOUR BREATH”

Oceanography: The study and exploration of the world’s ocean.

Fathom: A unit of measurement of the ocean depth. One fathom is 6 feet (1.83 meters).

Oceans of Earth

Continuous body of water, covers the majority of Earth

Integral part of the water cycle (evaporation)

Consist of several zones◦Temperature◦Pressure◦Sunlight

OCEAN REVIEW

Salinity fairly constantPhotosynthesis productivity greatest in sunlight zones

Currents recycle nutrients, minerals and gases

Terrestrial and aquatic food webs are interconnected and affect levels of nutrients.

Ocean Review (cont.)

Buoyancy: is the ability to float

Buoyant Force: is force that acts in the upward direction against gravity (makes objects feel lighter).

An object sinks if its weight is greater than the buoyant force.

If the weight of the object is equal to the buoyant force it floats.

REVIEWING BOUYANCY

Equipment used has changed over time.

http://www.coolclassroom.org/cool_projects/lessons/miniunits/lesson2.html

EXPLORING EARTH’S OCEAN

ABE (Automated Benthic Explorer): An untethered submersible, equipped with cameras and sensors, that navigates by sound beacons for long periods of time, “sleeping” on the ocean floor between pre-programmed duties until signaled to ascend for recovery.

A.B.E.

A.B.E.

DECOMPRESSION CHAMBER: A large portable container that divers can enter after they’ve surfaced to help their bodies return to normal atmospheric pressure.

DECOMPRESSION CHAMBER

ECHO SOUNDER: A device used to determine depth by sound waves.

ECHO SOUNDER

ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle): Unmanned submersible tethered to a mother ship and operated by pilots using a joy stick.

ROV (REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE)

SCUBA: Device that allows divers to breathe underwater for long periods of time.

SCUBA (SELF-CONTAINED UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS)

SONAR: Used to measure ocean depth by sending sound to bounce off the ocean floor.

SONAR (SOUND NAVIGATION RANGING)

SUBMERSIBLE: A small submarine used to explore the ocean depths; equipped with windows, lights, mechanical arms, cameras and other scientific instruments capable of seeing and recording data.

SUBMERSIBLE:

Submersible

major goal for the Long-term Ecosystem Observatory (LEO) is to develop a real-time capability for rapid environmental assessment and physical/biological forecasting in coastal waters.

data is collected from satellites, aircrafts, ships, fixed/relocatable moorings, and autonomous underwater vehicles.

LEO (Long-Term Ecosystem Observatory)

HANDOUT (story passage)

DRAW YOUR INTERPRETATION

ACTIVITY: 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA