Introduction to Oceans 8 th Grade Science

Q). How do producers who live on the ocean floor create a food for the rest of the ecosystem? - Chemosynthesis Warm-Up:

Q). What does an oceanographer do and what tools do they need to do their job?  An oceanographer is a person who studies the earth’s oceans and seas.  Their field of science is called oceanography. Warm-Up 10/15/13

Oceanography  Oceanographers use science and mathematics to study and explain the complex interactions between seawater, fresh water, polar ice caps, the atmosphere and the biosphere.

 Oceanography incorporates many fields of science, including chemistry, biology, geology, and physics. Oceanographers specialize into one of these areas  marine geologists - studying the ocean basins  marine chemists - determining the chemical composition of water or sediments  marine physicists - studying the properties of currents, waves and tides  marine biologists - describing marine life and how organisms interact with their environment Oceanographer

- Stand up - When I say Go hold your breath - Sit down when you can’t hold your breath anymore How long can you hold your breath?

 Where your predictions accurate?  Was it difficult?  What did you do when you felt yourself running out of breath?  Why might another person be able to hold their breath longer?  What do we have to help you breath underwater?  What other pieces of technology do scientists use?  What other obstacles might they encounter?  Would you want to be an oceanographer? Discussion

 Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus  Gear includes mask, fins, snorkel, depth gauge, tank-pressure gauge, underwater timer and compass, buoyancy compensator vest, regulator & octopus, wetsuit, underwater light, backup light, and diving knife. Scuba

 Alvin is a human occupied submersible that scientists use to explore the deep ocean. ALVIN

Decompression Chamber:  A compartment where atmospheric pressure can be raised or lowered gradually

ROV  Remotely Operated Vehicle – underwater remote control robot used to make observations and take pictures of the deep ocean.

 Used to determine ocean depth by the bouncing of sound waves. Echo Sounder

 Detects distance by bouncing sound waves off targets  Usually used with targets like fish or other boats, but can also be used to determine ocean depth SONAR- SOund NAvagation Ranging

Ocean comes from the Greek word "okeanus" meaning circular stream that flows around the edge of the Earth.

 We have 5 oceans known today:  Pacific  Atlantic  Indian  Arctic  Antarctic/ Southern.  The Pacific Ocean is the largest, the Arctic Ocean is the smallest. Where are the Oceans?

 We will be breaking apart the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean into North and South when we talk about these oceans in class because they behave very differently depending weather or not they are north or south of the equator. North and South Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

 Why did the egg sink in the first beaker and float in the second beaker?  Discuss it with your group and be ready to share! Demonstration

 The water in the first beaker was freshwater and the water in the second beaker was saltwater.  The density of saltwater is g/mL, more than the density of water (1.0 g/mL)  Therefore  The eggs density was more than that or water( so it sank)  The eggs density was less than that of the saltwater's, (so it floated). Density!

 Think about all of the different features on land and on the bottom of the ocean and discuss your hypothesis with your group?  Dissolved chemicals eroded from the Earth’s crust  Volcanic Ejections moved by wind  Hydrothermal vents Where does the salt in the ocean come from?

Salinity Lab

Where salt in the Ocean Comes from…

 The ocean dissolves many of the gases found in the atmosphere like …  Nitrogen  Oxygen  Carbon dioxide The colder the water the more dissolved gases there are in it. Dissolved Gases

 Temperature of ocean water decreases as depth increases. Temperature Zones

 The surface temperature of the ocean is warmer along the equator because that area of the ocean gets more direct sunlight. Surface Temperature Changes

 The surface temperature in the hemispheres is warmer during their summer season. Surface Temperature Changes

 Water has a high specific heat!!!!  It holds in and absorbs energy from the sun  This function regulates temperatures in the atmosphere and is perhaps the most important function of the ocean. A Global Thermostat

 The Ocean absorbs and releases heat in the atmosphere much more slowly than the land.  If it weren’t for this property, temperatures would fluctuate greatly and violently on our planet and life would be hard to sustain. A Global Thermostat

 The ocean regulates temperatures at different locations on the Earth.  Currents help move warm water to the poles  This is why some coastal areas have a warmer climate. A Global Thermostat