Tuesday, January 28, 2014

MS - ESS2.D (C) - Ocean's Influence on Weather and Climate - FINAL (RC 1/30/2014)

Module: Ocean’s Influence on Weather and Climate
DCI: ESS2.D (C) The ocean exerts a major influence on weather and climate by absorbing energy from the sun, releasing it over time, and globally redistributing it through ocean currents.

PE: MS-ESS2-6 Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

 [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on how patterns vary by latitude, altitude, and geographic land distribution. Emphasis of atmospheric circulation is on the sunlight-driven latitudinal banding, the Coriolis effect, and resulting prevailing winds; emphasis of ocean circulation is on the transfer of heat by the global ocean convection cycle, which is constrained by the Coriolis effect and the outlines of continents. Examples of models can be diagrams, maps and globes, or digital representations.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include the dynamics of the Coriolis effect.]

The ideas in this standard are: 
- the ocean has a major influence on weather and climate because it absorbs energy from the sun
- the absorbed energy is gradually released over time
- the released energy is redistributed across the world by ocean currents

So, this is yet another standard which boils down to uneven heating and its affects on climate, but with a specific focus on the energy which is stored in the ocean.  

Possible Questions:
- We can have general questions like...
How do oceans influence weather and climate?
absorbing the energy of the sun, storing it, and releasing it 

-We can also get into the things that change the way currents move
"Ocean currents are deflected consistently to the right in the northern hemisphere and consistently to the left in the southern hemisphere due to - "
correct answer - the rotation of the Earth on its axis. 
incorrect answer - the irregular surface of the ocean floor. 

"Regions on the coasts of climates have warmer winters and cooler summers than regions farther from the coast. What explains the difference in climate?"
correct answer - the ability of oceans to absorb and release heat
incorrect answer - mountain ranges usually form along coastlines







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