Pollution Pipe: Street to Stream

This document discusses the non-point sources of pollution found in runoff and the effects of development (especially impervious paved cover) on watersheds. Users can view charts and text that demonstrate the relationship between urban development and the impervious ground cover created by streets, parking lots, and roofs. A list of pollutants typically found in runoff is provided, as well as some steps that can be taken to prevent water pollution. Suggested sources for additional information are also provided. Educational levels: High school, Middle school

Current Events

This lesson on the cause of currents and water circulation in the Arctic Ocean will require students to investigate the influence of salinity and temperature on the density of seawater to determine what factors drive water circulation in the Arctic Ocean. Students identify the primary driving forces for ocean currents and infer the type of water circulation to be expected in the Arctic Ocean, given information on temperature, salinity, and bathymetry. Educational levels: High school

Look At That Bump

In this activity, students focus on the physical and chemical processes associated with the Charleston Bump, a series of rocky scarps, mounds, overhangs, and flat pavements that rise from more than 700 m at the surface of the Blake Plateau to within 400 m of the sea surface. They will be able to describe how the Charleston Bump affects the flow of water in the Gulf Stream, describe the potential biological significance of effects induced by the Charleston Bump, and use satellite imagery to obtain information on chlorophyll concentration at selected locations in the Earth's oceans. Students will also describe the chemical processes that produce the rock-like surface of the Charleston Bump as well as how the Charleston Bump affects the flow of water in the Gulf Stream. In addition, students will be able to describe the potential biological significance of effects induced by the Charleston Bump on the Gulf Stream and the chemical processes that produce its rock-like surface. Educational levels: Middle school

Let's Get to the Bottom of the Arctic!

In this lesson students investigate benthic communities in the deep Arctic Ocean to determine the factors that influence their compositions. As a result of this activity, students will be able to identify the three realms of the Arctic Ocean and describe the relationships between these realms. They will also be able to describe different species associations in a benthic community, infer probable feeding strategies used by benthic organisms, and relate these strategies to sediment characteristics. Students will also review the relationship between variety, relative abundance, and diversity of organisms. Educational levels: High school

Gulf of Alaska 2004: Forests of the Deep

In this activity, students explore deep-sea coral communities associated with seamounts. They will be able to explain at least three ways in which seamounts are important to biological communities, infer at least three ways in which deep-sea corals are important to seamount ecosystems, and explain why many scientists are concerned about the future of seamount ecosystems. In addition to being tied to the National Science Education Standards, the hands-on, inquiry-based activities includes focus questions, background information for teachers, links to interesting websites, and extensions. Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school

Going for the Green

This lesson will help students understand how primary production varies at different times of the year in the ocean over the southeastern U.S. continental shelf. Students will use satellite imagery to obtain information on chlorophyll concentration at selected locations in the Earth's oceans, explain the relationship between chlorophyll concentration and primary production, and describe seasonal variations in primary production off the southeastern coast of the United States. Students will also be able to describe the potential significance of observed variations in primary production to biological communities. Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school

Roots of the Hawaiian Hotspot

In this lesson students will investigate the seismology and geological origins of the Hawaiian Islands to discover how scientists can obtain information on geological processes deep within the Earth. As a result of this activity, students will be able to explain the processes of plate tectonics and volcanism that formed the Hawaiian Islands and describe, compare, and contrast S waves and P waves. They will also learn how seismic data recorded at different locations can be used to determine the epicenter of an earthquake, and will infer a probable explanation for the existence of ultra-low velocity zones, and how these zones may be related to the Hawaiian hotspot. Educational levels: High school

An Ocean of Weather

In this lesson, students will investigate the close relationship between the ocean and the atmosphere to determine the extent the ocean affects the Earth's weather in the South Atlantic Bight region. As they study this relationship, students will learn that the ocean and atmosphere work together as a system. They will experiment to find out that heat transfer from the ocean is a cause of much of Earth's weather and will make and explain an ocean water cycle. Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school

Ring Detectives

This lesson will help students understand what Gulf Stream rings are and why are they significant. Students will describe the overall flow of the Gulf Stream, explain how it affects biological communities in the North Atlantic Ocean, and describe Gulf Stream rings and how they are formed. They will also compare and contrast warm-core rings and cold-core rings and explain how Gulf Stream rings may affect biological communities on the edge and slope of the continental shelf adjacent to the coasts of North and South Carolina. This hands-on activity uses online data resources and includes: focus questions, learning objectives, teaching time, background information, learning procedures, extensions, and resources and student handouts. Educational levels: Middle school