7 th Grade Science Unit: Water s Cycles and Patterns Lesson: WCP 21 Name: Date: Monday, October 3, 2016 Homeroom: _ OBJECTIVES: By the end of today s lesson, you will be able to SWBAT Explain how currents affect climate. SWBAT Describe the effects of El Niño. SWBAT Explain how scientists study and predict the pattern of El Niño. DO NOW Match the correct description with the correct term. Write the letter in the space provided. 1. a streamlike movement of ocean water located far below the surface 2. the amount of matter in a given space, or volume 3. a measure of the amount of dissolved salts or solids in a liquid a. evaporation b. deep current c. density d. salinity 4. a process which removes water but leaves solids behind 5. Why does ocean water that is covered by ice increase in density? 6. Why does evaporation increase the density of ocean water? 1
Class Notes Surface Currents and Climate Warm-Water Currents and Climate: create warmer climates in coastal areas that would otherwise be much cooler. 2. 1. Cold-Water Currents and Climate : keep climates along a coast cooler than the inland climate year-round. 2. 1. 2
Upwelling: _ water to the surface of the ocean. The that are brought to the support the growth of plankton. support larger organisms, such as fish and seabirds. El Niño is a in the Pacific Ocean that produces a warm current. : alters enough to cause disasters, including flash floods, mudslides, and droughts. El Niño also prevents _ off the coast of South America. Which affect what live in the water. 3
Guided Practice: We Do How Do El Niño and La Niña Affect Climate? Every 2 to 12 years, the South Pacific trade winds move less warm water to the western Pacific than usual. As a result, surface-water temperatures along the west coast of South America rise. Over time, this warming spreads westward. This periodic change in the location of warm and cool surface waters is called El Niño. El Niño events can last a year or longer. Sometimes, El Niño is followed by La Niña. La Niña happens when surface-water temperatures in the eastern Pacific becomes unusually cool. La Niña also affects weather patterns. EFFECTS OF EL NIÑO El Niño can have a major effect on weather patterns. Flash floods and mudslides may happen in areas of the world that usually receive little rain, such as Peru. Other areas of the world, such as Indonesia and Australia, may receive less rain than usual. El Niño changes the way the ocean and atmosphere interact. Changes in the weather during El Niño show how the atmosphere, ocean, and weather patterns are related. Scientists can predict the changes in the weather on land that might be caused by El Niño by studying the atmosphere and the ocean. To study El Niño, scientists collect data with buoys anchored to the ocean floor along the equator. The buoys record data about water temperature, air temperature, currents, and winds. The data sometimes show that the South Pacific trade winds are weaker than usual. The data may also show that the surface-water temperatures in the oceans have increased. Either of these changes can tell scientists that El Niño is likely to happen. _ 4
Independent Practice: You Do 1. El Nino happens when there is warmer water near the west coast of South America. Why do scientists collect information about air temperatures in order to help them predict El Nino and La Nina? 2. Why do surface-water temperatures on the west coast of South America rise during El Niño? 3. City A and City B are the same height above sea level. Based on the figure below, make a prediction about the average temperature in City A compared to City B. Explain your answer. 4.In what direction does cold water move during upwelling? a. from north to south b. away from the land c. toward the ocean surface d. toward the ocean floor 5
El Niño Read the description. Then draw a line from the dot next to each description to the matching word. 5. change in Pacific Ocean water temperature that produces a warm current 6. makes Pacific Ocean water temperature cooler than usual 7. a long period of time with no rain 8. collects information about temperature, currents, and winds to help predict El Niño a. La Niña b. drought c. NOAA d. El Niño 1. Warmer climates in coastal areas that would otherwise be much cooler may be created by a. cold-water currents. b. warm-water currents. c. deep currents. d. breaking currents. 2. Where does the Gulf Stream get its warmth? a. from the Tropics b. from the North Atlantic c. from the British Isles d. from Newfoundland 3. The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Tropics to a. the South Atlantic Ocean. b. the South Pacific Ocean. c. the North Atlantic Ocean. d. the North Pacific Ocean. 4. Currents that can keep coastal regions cooler than the inland climate year-round are a. cold-water currents. b. warm-water currents. c. deep currents. d. breaking currents. 6
5. The California Current carries cold water to Mexico from a. the South Atlantic Ocean. c. the North Atlantic Ocean. b. the South Pacific Ocean. d. the North Pacific Ocean. 6. Cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean rises to the surface and replaces warm surface water in a process called a.the Coriolis effect. c. El Niño. b. upwelling. d. La Niña. 7. When upwelling takes place, cold water from the deep ocean a. moves further out to sea. c. rises to the surface. b. causes photosynthesis. d. gets replaced by warm water. 8.In what ocean do El Niño and La Niña form? 9. What is El Niño? What is La Niña? 10. What are two changes in weather patterns caused by El Niño that can cause disasters? 12. Why is it important for scientists to learn as much as possible about El Niño? 13. What four things does the network of NOAA-operated buoys record? 7
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7 th Grade Science Name: Date: October 3, 2016 Unit: Water s Cycles and Patterns Lesson: WCP 21 Match the correct description with the correct term. Write the letter in the space provided. 1. type of current that creates warmer climates along a coastal area 2. type of current that creates cooler climates in coastal areas 3. name of the ocean current that cools the West Coast of the United States 4. the movement of cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface of the ocean 5. a change in the water temperature of the Pacific Ocean that produces a warm surface current 6. a change in the water temperature of the eastern Pacific Ocean that produces cooler than usual surface water temperatures 7. used by NOAA to collect data to predict an El Niño Homeroom: /5 = % DNG? Strive Due Date: A B C D F a. California Current b. cold-water d. El Niño f. La Niña g. buoys i. upwelling j. warm-water 8. Many marine organisms depend on upwelling to bring nutrients to the surface. How might El Niño affect a fisher s way of life? 9. Name two disasters caused by El Niño. 9