Abstract

In this multi-part activity students investigate the location, width, and depth of, as well bathymetric features present in, different ocean basins.

They first explore elevation and bathymetric profiles that span the entire globe at multiple latitudes. Goals for this part are for them to match each profile with the latitude it represents and to identify the location of continents and ocean basins in each profile.

They are then provided with higher resolution profiles of different ocean basins, as well as maps showing the locations of the transects (the transects and maps do not provide information on which corresponds with which). Using these data, they estimate the widths and depths in each basin with the goal of identifying which bathymetric profile corresponds to each ocean basin.

The culmination of the activity is a group discussion of Earth's hypsometric (hypsographic) curve.

Context

This was implemented as a hands-on activity in an introductory college-level course on oceans, atmosphere, and climate. The majority of students who take this course are non-STEM majors, however this activity is also appropriate for introductory courses for majors and can be adapted for high school courses.

Why It Works

The development of this activity was motivated by the desire to have the students make connections between oceanography and plate tectonics without focusing on volcanism or earthquakes. We also wanted to the students to connect plate tectonics with certain features on land that play an important role in atmospheric and climatic patterns.