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General Oceanography
Name_________________
Geology 105
Expedition #18 The Ocean – Climate Regulator
See Due Date in Greensheet or in Module Area of Canvas
Expedition Objective:
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Establish the link between ocean circulation and climate
Homework – see assigned learning group discussion for instructions
To begin, go to: http://oceansjsu.com/105d/exped_climate/1.html
First we will examine the boundary currents, both the western and eastern, since examples
of each impacts the climate of the United States, as well as many other nations in the
world.
Second we will look at coastal upwelling along central and northern California, which has a
powerful effect on the climate in the bay area and operates on seasonal time-scale.
1. Introduction - Ocean and Climate
Why is the ocean used to forecast the long-range weather?
How might global warming affect the ocean and climate?
2. Let's return where we left off in the previous expedition……
Eastern Boundary Currents and Climate - How might the eastern boundary currents,
such as the Peru current or California current, influence coastal climate?
_______________
and flow at a relatively _______________ speed.
Eastern boundary currents carry
(temperature) water
3. The California Current - And It's Not Some Trendy Bistro! --Jim Bettinger
Draw an arrow on the map below showing the flow direction of the California current
What effect does this current have on climate along northern and central
California?
4. Current Marine Conditions - let's examine the today's conditions at several buoys
(floats) with instruments - Complete by the table below - Note that station 46059 is in
the open ocean whereas the other stations are closer to the coast.
Real-Time Observation
46026
46012
46042
46059
1) Latitude
2) Longitude
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3) Location Description
4) Air temperature
5) Water temperature
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On the map above, draw a pattern of your choice in the regions of the coldest
surface water
5. Acquiring Data on the Wind
By means of arrows, show the prevailing wind direction off California during the
spring and summer
6. Making a Model – Let’s examine the wind and surface water flow in the coastal
ocean
Make two diagrams (depth view and top view) showing the direction of water motion
in the Ekman layer below the wind.
7. Why is the water at the coast so cold along California?
We now have the two pieces of puzzle………..think eastern boundary currents first
and then cold, rising water
Give two reasons for the cold sea surface temperature off central and
northern California
a.______________________________________
_______________________________________
b.______________________________________
_______________________________________
Put arrows on the drawing below to show the combination of the south-flowing California
current and coastal upwelling, in addition to the prevailing wind direction along the
California coast in the spring and summer
North
Coast
Land
Ocean
8. Other Aspects of Upwelling
How do the ocean conditions set up by the eastern boundary currents encourage
upwelling?
What other regions of the ocean exhibit upwelling?
9. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Let’s move to the south into the neighboring Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
How does upwelling set the framework for the marine ecosystem along California?
10. Upwelling and Regional Climate
How does upwelling influence the climate along the coastline of northern and central
California, especially during the spring and summer months?
How does advection fog form in the bay area?
11. Climate Conundrum
How does the ocean influence global climate as demonstrated in this audio segment and
where is the heat related to CO2 buildup, and global warming, being stored?
How does science move forward to increase our understanding of the world around us?
12. A Review
Describe how this video summarizes a major portion of our research on the ocean in
the last three expeditions?
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Homework – see assigned learning group discussion for instructions on required
posting