Light, Pressure, and Weather
Before we can begin talking about the effect light has on the ocean. You will need to learn about light wavelengths. Watch this video on light wavelengths.
(Online Course instructions only) Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "Light Wavelengths" and take notes, write down questions you might have, and new examples you might think of. You may include any picture you like that represents the topic, including funny memes.
Light and the Ocean
Why is the ocean blue?
Watch this video on why the ocean is blue.
(Online Course instructions only) Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "Why the Ocean is Blue" and take notes, write down questions you might have, and new examples you might think of. You may include any picture you like that represents the topic, including funny memes.
The blue wavelength bounces and can penetrate the deepest.
Kyla Inguito
Sketchbook Example
Photic Zone
Demo: (In Classroom)
Demonstration on boiling water with Pressure
What is necessary to boil water?
Can you boil water by cooling it off?
Watch this video on Atmospheric Pressure.
(Online Course instructions only) Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "Atmospheric Pressure" and take notes, write down questions you might have, and new examples you might think of. You may include any picture you like that represents the topic, including funny memes.
Teacher Demo
When matter is removed from space it creates a vacuum that must be filled
Heat rises and as it does new matter must take its place. This new matter is usually cooler than the heated matter that rises
Demonstration on heat rising (In Classroom)
-How does this compare to weather? To wind? To water currents?
-How does this affect Los Angeles and our smog?
Atmospheric Pressure
One Atmosphere is equal to 14.7 pounds per square inch
-Every 10m (33ft) one more ATM is added
-What does this mean?
-When you are standing on the beach there is 1 ATM pushing down on you
-This is because of all the atmosphere (air) weighing down on you
-When you dive 33ft under water you now have 2 ATM's pushing down on you
-When you dive 99ft underwater you now have 4 ATM's pushing down on you
-4 ATM's is equal to 58.8 PSI
As you dive deeper the air inside your body compresses
-If you dive to fast you get a headache because of the pressure trapped in your head
-You have to dive slowly
-When you start to ascend you need to do so slowly or the compressed air will expand too quickly
-If the air in your body expands too quickly you get the "Bends"
-Another problem with diving is nitrogen poisoning
-Your body uses all the oxygen in your body but stores the nitrogen
-If you build up too much nitrogen you could die
-To help prevent this divers use a dive card that helps them with safe dive times
Kate Terbush
Surface Circulation
-The wind drives the strongest ocean currents which occurs on the surface layer
-Wind and surface currents are ultimately caused by heat from the sun
-Wind and currents are also influenced by the Coriolis Effect
The Coriolis Effect
-Because the earth is round, anything that moves across the earths surface tends to turn a little instead of moving in a straight line.
Wind Patterns and Weather
Surface Currents
-The wind blows the top layer of the ocean. This causes currents
-Instead of the surface current moving in the same direction as the wind it curves at a 45 degree angle because of the Coriolis Effect
-Ekman Spiral
-Each layer of the ocean pushes the next causing a downward spiral of current
-Ekman Layer
-The Ekman Layer is the top layer of the ocean that is most affected by the spiral
-Ekman Transport
-Eventually if you go deep enough the Ekman Spiral is causing the current to move at a 90 degree angle from the direction the wind is blowing.
-After 200 meters, the wind has little effect and the ocean water moves very slowly appearing almost still.
Watch this video on ocean currents.
(Online Course instructions only) Create a box in your sketchbook, title it "Ocean Currents" and take notes, write down questions you might have, and new examples you might think of. You may include any picture you like that represents the topic, including funny memes.