Short Term - Small Scale Upwelling Events
Initial Publication Date: July 12, 2015
Summary
This activity is adapted from an Bridge Data Series Activity (http://www2.vims.edu/bridge/) using water temperature and wind data from the USACE FRF in Duck, NC. The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to a new type of data graphic and also the idea of localized upwelling due to winds forcing. The data covers July of 2002 and 2003 that had very different wind patterns and therefore differing water temperatures.
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Context
Audience
I use this assignment in a basic format for an introductory oceanography course for non-science majors. It is a large lecture course, with 130 - 200 students, and the students work in pairs or in sets of three on this and then the class as a whole discusses the outcomes.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
They must understand the idea of upwelling and downwelling, and be comfortable reading data off of graphs.
How the activity is situated in the course
This is a stand alone exercise that is used within a lecture.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Upwelling Forces
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Analysis of patterns in data combined with synthesis of multiple data types in understanding upwelling for two months at Duck, NC.
Other skills goals for this activity
The students also get practice working in groups and writing up their conclusions.
Description and Teaching Materials
Teaching Notes and Tips
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