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Live from the Antarctic 2: Hot, Cold and Currents
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/antarctica2/main/t_guide/activity_141.html
From DLESE Community Collection (DCC)
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In this activity students will explore how changes in the salinity and temperature of water affect its density and motion. They will discover that in winter months, primary production in the Antarctic Ocean is nearly zero, which creates difficulty for the grazers who depend on primary production. But in the 5-6 months of austral spring and summer, these waters become a nutrient-rich pasture for plankton. The frigid polar waters teem with life. Part of the reason lies in the density and movement of the water column, which is affected by temperature, salinity, changes in pressure (depth) and sediment suspension. Students will illustrate how these factors work in some simple lab experiments.
Intended for grade levels:
  • Intermediate (3-5)
  • Middle (6-8)
Type of resource:
  • For the classroom:
    • Lab activity
Subject:
  • Ocean Sciences:
    • Biological oceanography
    • Chemical oceanography
    • Physical oceanography
Technical requirements:
No specific technical requirements, just a browser required
Cost / Copyright:
No cost
Copyright 1996 Passport to Knowledge. All Rights Reserved.
DLESE Catalog ID: DLESE-000-000-007-270
Educational standards:
  • National Science Education Standards (NSES):
    • K-4:
      • A - Science as inquiry:
        • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
      • B - Physical science:
        • Properties of objects and materials
      • D - Earth and space science:
        • Properties of earth materials
    • 5-8:
      • A - Science as inquiry:
        • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
      • B - Physical science:
        • Motion and forces
        • Properties and changes of properties in matter
      • D - Earth and space science:
        • Structure of the earth system
Related resources:
This resource is part of 'Live From Antarctica 2: Teacher's Guide'
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/antarctica2/main/t_guide/index.html
Resource contact / Creator / Publisher:
Publisher: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Quest