Unit One: Ocean Observing Systems

Enhancement Activity

Oceanography Through Time
For more than two centuries, scientists and explorers have been throwing nets over the sides of ships trying to collect data “snapshots” to help them make assumptions about the ocean. Until the advent of the coastal and ocean observing system networks, studying the ocean was severely limited by available ships, time, money and weather. Nonetheless, the old ways of oceanography helped get us where we are today -- able to monitor real-time ocean data from anywhere in the world via the Internet. Use this timeline to explore where we have been and where we are going in terms of ocean exploration.

Materials

Internet access
Student Worksheet

Procedure

Visit the Web site:
http://www.coolclassroom.org/cool_projects/lessons/miniunits/lesson2.html and answer the questions on the worksheet.