Climate
Can the climate of an area be effected by an ocean current?
Objectives
Students will be able to:
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determine if the Gulf Stream current has an effect on climate
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Materials
computers with Internet access
Student Worksheet
map
Background
BBC Weather Center -
Gulf Stream
Procedure
1. Obtain a copy of the Student Worksheet.
2.
Use the following links to obtain your data.
Compare today's temperature for each set of cities in the tables below.
Important: Since these are real time weather readings, remember the time of day
in these two regions are quite different. Therefore, compare the high and low
temperature reading for today's forecast.
3.
Record the latitude and longitude for each city.
This information is found in the top right hand corner of the weather site.
4.
Locate and label the cities on the map.
Assessment
1. Which cities may be influenced by
the Gulf Stream waters? Explain.
2. Can you rely on one day's worth of data to reflect general temperatures in a
region? Explain.
3. If you would opt to collect more data, how much do think would be sufficient?
Explain.
4. How could you obtain this data? Be specific.
5. What would you do with the data to help support your hypothesis of the
influence of the Gulf Stream current on climate?
Extension
1. Use the following links to determine if the Kuroshio Current off the
coast of southern Japan has an effect on the climate, and if so, what effect.
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
Latest Sea Surface
Temperature Image
Recent Sea Surface
Temperature Images
Weather Underground
2. Use the links above to determine if the California Current off the west
coast of the United States has an effect on the climate, and if so, what effect.
3.
Compare your real time data results with historical temperature data.
Historical data can be found at bottom of the "Conditions" section.
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