3. climatologist
Gulf Stream
hydrologist
ocean current

4. What do you know about Benjamin Franklin?
Record your answer in your notebook.

5. Read the introduction and look for key ideas

6. How do oceans affect climate?

7. Complete the procedure
Use Student Sheet 57.1, “Intra-act Discussion: Oceans and Climate” to record whether you agree or disagree with each statement.

8. Intra-act discussion
New technology is more helpful today than it was in the 1700s.
The greatest effect on climate is from the ocean currents.
Scientists have evidence that the Gulf Stream is slowing down.
All scientific ideas are discovered by experimentation.

9. Analysis question 1
What kinds of data do you think scientists need to collect to determine if the climate of Ireland is changing?

10. Analysis question 2
How do techniques used to map ocean currents today differ from those used in the late 1700s?

11. Analysis question 3
What is the relationship between oceans and climate?

12. Analysis question 4
Look at the map below. Describe the likely effect of the California Current on the climate of California.
California Current is a
cold water current that flows
from north to south along the
coast of California.

13. How do oceans affect climate?

14. Key vocabulary definitions
Climatologist - Scientist who studies the earth’s climates. Gulf Stream - A strong ocean current that flows on the surface of the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico to northwestern Europe.

15. Key vocabulary definitions
Hydrologist - Scientist who studies the distribution and movement of water. Ocean current - Regular movements of large amounts of water in the ocean.

16. Weather-related career
Do you think you might be interested in a weather-related career? Go to the Issues and Earth Science page of the SEPUP website to find links to more information about careers in this field.