Urban Watershed quiz. The Dam Quiz. Ocean Acidiciation 2. ANNALS OF SCIENCE about climate change and the ocean… Writer describes the work of Victoria Fabry, an oceanographer who studies tiny marine organisms called pterapods. As part of her research, she noted that increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the water caused the pterapod shells to dissolve… Writer describes the large quantities of carbon dioxide that have been added to the atmosphere since the start of the industrial revolution by the burning of fossil fuels. Gasses from the atmosphere are absorbed by the ocean. Nearly half of all the carbon dioxide that humans have emitted since the start of the nineteenth century has been absorbed by the sea. In sufficient quantities, CO2 can change the pH of ocean water. This process is known as “ocean acidification.”
Desalination: Drink a cup of seawater? - US Geological Survey. The USGS Water Science School Thirsty? How 'bout a cool, refreshing cup of seawater? No, don't take us literally! Humans cannot drink saline water. But, saline water can be made into freshwater, which is the purpose of this portable, inflatable solar still (it even wraps up into a tiny package).
The process is called desalination, and it is being used more and more around the world to provide people with needed freshwater. Most of the United States has, or can gain access to, ample supplies of fresh water for drinking purposes. The "simple" hurdle that must be overcome to turn seawater into fresh water is to remove the dissolved salt in seawater. What makes water saline? What do we mean by "saline water? " Here are our parameters for saline water: Fresh water - Less than 1,000 ppm Slightly saline water - From 1,000 ppm to 3,000 ppm Moderately saline water - From 3,000 ppm to 10,000 ppm Highly saline water - From 10,000 ppm to 35,000 ppm The worldwide need for freshwater. Seafood Market Activity. Ocean News | Issue 7 | Climate Change. Top Ten Things You Should Know British Columbia PLO's: Science 6, 7, 8 Social Studies 6, 7, 8 Background: In this activity students will review the major topics associated with abrupt climate change.
Each student will then choose one of the concepts that they feel is important to understand, research the topic and then become an expert and teach others in the class on this topic. Climate change and global warming can be overwhelming topics to discuss. Scientists have been studying how climate impacts organisms and ecosystems for decades, but are only recently beginning to come to a consensus about what it all means. One-way to learn more about climate change is tackle it piece by piece. This activity covers a wide range of topics related to climate change and the impacts it will have on the planet. Materials: Procedure: Have the students write a short journal entry about what they know regarding climate change. Discussion: Why is it important to understand climate change?
Risk management: Ocean News | Issue 7 | Climate Change. Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Climate Change Climate change is a huge subject area that can be overwhelming to understand. Since the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) released their fourth assessment report in February 2007 [1], the topic of climate change has taken a front seat in the media and has inspired debate from classrooms and cafes, to the highest levels of government around the planet. Here is a short list of the most important points to focus on when trying to comprehend this vast topic. Each of these points provides a concise summary of how human activities and the environment are connected to each other. There is agreement in the scientific community that abrupt climate change is occurring.
Many of the specific impacts are still being studied, but abrupt climate change is currently changing the planet [2]. This is not an exhaustive list of abrupt climate change topics, just a few that lead to many more. Top Ten lesson plan 1. 2. 3. 4. Ocean News | Issue 7 | Climate Change. Coral Reefs Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, with species estimates ranging into the millions and new creatures discovered each year [1]. Located in shallow, tropical marine waters, coral reefs are composed of calcium carbonate structures that form a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae, allowing both the coral and the algae to share the necessary elements for life: food and shelter.The abrupt climate change the earth is now experiencing is having major impacts on this complex ecosystem worldwide. Coral reefs are slow growing and need very specific conditions to survive, making them extremely sensitive to changes to environmental factors such as temperature and pH.
Currently, 30% of the world's corals are in a degraded state, and an estimated 60% will be damaged by the year 2030 as a result of environmental changes and other distrubances[2]. Impacts on Reefs Coral Reef Dependants People in coastal areas are also dependant on coral reefs. 1. 2. Ocean News | Issue 7 | Climate Change. Lesson Plan: Coral reefs, climate change, and the impacts on human populations British Columbia PLO's: Science 6, 7, 8 Social Studies 6, 7, 8 Math 6, 7, 8 Background: For this activity students will use maps to estimate how the human population may be affected by the decline of corals reefs worldwide due to climate change.
This is a good activity to use at any point in a climate change unit after the introduction has been done. It can be used in conjunction with the Acidic Oceans and Plankton lesson plans to expand on how pH change impacts the oceans. With climate change altering both the pH levels and the temperature of the world's oceans, coral reefs have been identified as the marine ecosystem that will be most negatively impacted. Aesthetically pleasing and teaming with life, coral reefs support local communities across the planet as vital fishing grounds. Materials: Procedure: On the overhead place the image of coral reef locations in the world (see resource section). Discussion: IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Ocean News | Issue 7 | Climate Change. Changing Ocean Chemistry British Columbia PLO's: Science 6, 7, 8 Math 6, 7, 8 Background: Students will raise Artemia (Brine shrimp) in the classroom in a variety of pH levels.
As the ocean's acidity increases it is thought that plankton that form shells will not be able to do so. Here students will test the ability of one type of zooplankton to develop and grow at different pH levels. Plankton are drifters, riding the world's ocean currents. The pH scale is a measure of hydrogen ions in a solution which makes it acidic. The genus Artemia is an ancient crustacean that has been on Earth for over 100 million years. Materials: Ocean News article Plankton: doing more than drifting through Experimental setup schematic Brine shrimp cysts ( Artemia ) Large jars or beakers (min 9) Air stones and pumps (optional) Water (preferably distilled) Mercury-free thermometers Graph paper White vinegar Baking soda pH paper Measuring spoons Magnifying glass Procedure: In Advance In Class Next Day. Ocean News | Issue 7 | Climate Change. Plankton: doing more than just drifting through Plankton is found all over the planet – from the polar-regions to the tropics, freshwater lakes to the sea.
Plankton are mostly small organisms, drifting along with the currents and unable to swim against the waves. Unnoticed by most, these small creatures at the bottom of the food chain give life to most of what we see in the sea. Climate change around the world is having numerous impacts on the oceans, and a major concern is how plankton is being affected. The importance of plankton Planktonic photosynthesis accounts for roughly half of the primary productivity on earth and plays an important role in the ocean's carbon cycle. This massive conversion of inorganic carbon into a useable form allows much of the life in the oceans to survive.
Why study plankton? By examining patterns in plankton distribution we can learn what affect climate change is having on marine ecosystems. Planktonic connections The trouble with change Plankton lesson plan. Ocean News | Issue 7 | Climate Change. Acidic Oceans British Columbia PLO's: Science 6, 7, 8 English Language Arts 6, 7, 8 Visual Arts extension Background: In this activity students will evaluate their understanding of the carbon cycle in the oceans while reading different articles. This activity can follow the introductory lessons on climate change and is easily incorporated into a science or chemistry lesson. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the oceans are exchanged at the surface layer between these two environments. Unfortunately, this process may cause long-term damage to marine ecosystems. Currently, the average pH of the oceans is approximately 8.1, so you could say that a decrease in pH is actually making the oceans more neutral (7 is considered neutral).
Materials: Procedure: Display a blank carbon cycle on the overhead for the students to see. Discussion: What happens when CO2 is in excess in the atmosphere? Extension and Resources: Evaluate and discuss the credibility and reliability of the different sources. Ocean Acidification. Ocean Acidification Carbon has a complex life cycle: its released by living organisms as part of respiration, converted into sugar by plants and algae, and absorbed by the oceans where it is used in the marine food web – only to be given off in respiration again!
Unfortunately, human activities during the past two centuries have begun to tip natural carbon balances between the atmosphere and the marine environment. Acidic processes Increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels can result in ocean acidification, a decrease in pH in the oceans. When CO2 is absorbed in the oceans, it undergoes several reactions to form carbonic acid, making the water more acidic. Acid does more than burn Ocean acidification will have major effects on marine animals. Shellfish at great risk Organisms that incorporate calcium (Ca) and carbonate (CO3) into their shells and tissues, including corals, echinoderms (like sea stars), shellfish and calcareous algae, are especially at risk from ocean acidification [1]. 1. 2.
Ocean News | Issue 7 | Climate Change. IPCC who? On February 2, 2007 a major report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that climate change observed over the last several decades is “very likely” due to human impacts on the environment [1]. The report stresses that the time for debating whether or not climate change is occurring is over, and it is now time for action. On October 12, 2007 the IPCC received half of the Nobel Peace prize for its contributions to stop global climate change.
But who is the IPCC? Two United Nations groups established the IPCC: the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The WMO was established in 1950 and consists of members from 188 countries. A few of their goals are to monitor changes in climate patterns and promote research. What they do The panel was formed in 1988 and immediately undertook a review of the existing climate change science. Canada's Role IPCC lesson plan 1. 2. 3. ONews/OceanNewsReader/ON3.pdf. Awesome Osmosis. The concluding discussion is an important component part of the station.
The experiment and intervening discussion should have introduced students to the idea of concepts of osmosis. Now it is time for the students to apply what they have learned to marine and freshwater organisms and discover how certain organisms deal with the process of osmoregulation. While the direction of the discussion is ultimately up to the activity leader and the students, we have included both an outline for activity leaders to follow as a guideline and a description of how selected marine and freshwater organisms osmoregulate. Have students discuss the osmoregulatory problems associating with living in fresh water and living in salt water. Introduce students to the primary organs of the excretory system, the organ system that salt-water and fresh-water organisms use for osmoregulation.
Use the information contained in the list below to explain how certain fresh-water and salt-water organisms osmoregulate. Thermoregulation in Marine Mammals. There are a few things that can be added onto this activity. First of all, there can be a quick discussion comparing heat loss in water and in air. The following activity can be used to illustrate the concepts behind this: The presenter will lead into the activity by asking, "Do you think it’s easier to lose heat in water or air? " Then the presenter will perform a demonstration to help show that heat is lost in water more quickly than in air. The demonstration entails taking two 50mL beakers and filling them with hot water. Then the water temperature is measured in both beakers and recorded. Another simple addition to the activity can be used to compare the different ways that marine mammals keep warm.
Aquatic Ecosystems.