Unit 3 Anomalous Behavior

• Cognitive/Propositional: Provide an understanding of ocean-atmosphere interaction, including the mechanics of ENSO and NAO.
• Behavioral/Practical: Enable the prediction/projection of change in a system, analysis of real oceanographic data, and application of basic quantitative skills.
• Experiential: Provide opportunities for reflection on the nature of ocean surface oscillations and on the science that provides the basis for our understanding of these phenomena. Affectively engage in the impacts of ocean surface oscillations.

Unit 3 Learning Outcomes

• Lecture Instruction/Preparatory Reading
• Explain ocean-atmosphere interactions, including the mechanics of the ENSO.
• Diagram an El Niño event.
• Recall examples of how ocean surface oscillations impact ecosystems and people.
• Case Study 3.1
• Predict the local effects of La Niña based on the mechanics of El Niño.
• Create precipitation intensity maps for the three states of the ENSO.
• Predict the regional coastal effects of ENSO based on its mechanics.
• Consider the global effects of ENSO and its potential long-term impacts.
• Case Study 3.2
• Read global sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly maps.
• Assess the state of the ENSO from SST anomaly maps.
• Create a time line of changes in ENSO conditions.
• Assess the recurrence interval of the ENSO system.

This unit is designed to function as one day of instruction in an introductory geology, meteorology, geography, or environmental science class. The lecture is customizable for different teaching needs (see notes below), and the activities can be done in class, completed together as a lab, or completed as part(s) of a lab, depending on time and topical needs. As a stand-alone teaching collection, it communicates information about ENSO in lecture instruction, introduces La Niña based on the basic mechanics of El Niño, builds knowledge of ENSO precipitation patterns, and links ocean surface anomalies to coastal and global impacts. In the Climate of Change InTeGrate Module, it follows the exploration of Pacific and Atlantic Ocean surface data in Unit 2 and precedes analysis of the Greenland ice sheet and connections between the ocean surface and glaciers in Unit 4.

The materials for this unit include a student reading, lecture, activities, and study guide. The lecture is optional. I recommend assigning the reading as preparation for class and using the lecture to lead a short discussion (or debrief students without the lecture) before beginning the activities in case students have questions on the reading. I designed the activities to develop understanding of ENSO and guide reflection. You can implement them in class, in lab, or as homework. I recommend that you complete at least one in class if you assign one as homework, so the students have an understanding of how to complete the tasks.

• Unit 3 Reading: From Anomaly to Oscillation

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• Unit 3 Lecture (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 8.4MB Oct16 24)
• Unit 3 Lecture Slides (Acrobat (PDF) 1.4MB Oct16 24)
• Unit 3 Lecture Notes (Acrobat (PDF) 4.3MB Oct16 24)
• Case Study 3.1 - Predicting Patterns: What Does La Niña Look Like?
• Case Study 3.2 - Exploring Patterns: ENSO on the Global Stage
• Unit 3 Study Guide: ENSO

Some students will find these processes difficult to comprehend.

• Assure them that these phenomena are not completely straightforward.
• Emphasize simple cause-effect and first principles relationships.
• Provide resources to students (videos, animation, and tutorials) to walk them through these processes in different ways.

The activities can be used formatively or summatively, although I recommend at least one be formative, so that students can develop their understanding, ask questions, and learn by trial in class with you and their peers. I conduct the activities as in-class group work, but they could be individual as long as students are provided enough reference material.

Summative assessment questions:

What is La Niña and why does it occur? Draw a diagram to illustrate your explanation and give an example of how La Niña has impacted people in a particular place and time.

Does this ocean surface anomaly map display El Niño, ENSO normal, or La Niña conditions, and how do you know? Where will precipitation fall if these anomalous temperatures remain in place?

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InTeGrate Climate of Change - Level 2 Assessment - ocean surface anomaly map

Provenance: NOAA/NESDIS
Reuse: This item is in the public domain and maybe reused freely without restriction.

ENSO can become part of the geologic record through

A. flooding that leaves behind sediment deposits

B. flooding that scours away sediment deposits

C. drought-induced fires, which leave behind burnt soils and sediments

D. both A & C

E. no known means

Of the following, all are components of ENSO except

A. sea surface temperature

B. trade winds

C. jet stream

D. upwelling

E. thermocline

Student Self-Assessment

To provide an opportunity for students to reflect on what they have learned in Unit 3 (and Unit 2, as well, if that was done prior to Unit 3), at the end of this unit, ask students to write on an index card one thing that they feel they have learned in this unit, or that seems particularly clear, and one thing that still seems confusing, unclear, or incomplete. Collect the cards, and use them to determine what aspects of the topic might need to be revisited in another class.

Students can also test their knowledge by completing the Unit 3 outcome tasks. These can be adapted in Blackboard/Moodle to a quiz or set of open-ended questions.

• Understand the mechanics of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation.
• Diagram an El Niño event.
• Recall examples of how ocean surface oscillations impact ecosystems and people.

• videos & tutorial: El Niño (ENSO) Animation V1.25 (2009/3)
• animation: Idealized ENSO Simulation
• video (Portuguese): El Niño, La Niña
• Weather Explained Weather Almanac: El Niño & La Niña
• NOAA: El Niño
• NOAA CPC: El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
• NOAA ESRL: El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
• tutorial: NOAA Ocean Explorer: El Niño
• IRI: Overview of the ENSO System
• USGS: Information on EL Niño