"Don't Forget the Salt!"
Aquarius Education and
Public Outreach
Annette deCharon
University of Maine
This map shows a sevenday average, based on all
known measurement
locations sampled over
the past 100 years for Sea
Surface Salinity (SSS)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb7KAf-HsE8
Not presently measured by
satellite, this map shows the
weekly SSS coverage that
will be achieved by Aquarius
after it is activated
Aquarius / SAC-D is a joint
U.S. (NASA) - Argentine
(CONAE) venture
How do we
engage
today’s
learners to
utilize SSS
data sets?
By providing resources that demonstrate how improved
understanding of salinity patterns – with ties to climate and the
water cycle – can benefit society as a whole.
K-4: Explain that evaporation can separate the
water from the salt in salt water
5-8: Explain how the processes of the
water cycle relate to the ocean
Salinity patterns are
governed by geographic
differences in the "water
budget."
Students learn about the processes
that influence salinity patterns using
sequential maps of monthly mean
data from the North Atlantic Ocean.
http://aquarius.nasa.gov/education-datatools.html
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
By clicking on the "play"
button, users view pairs of
monthly maps.
On a data analysis
worksheet, students answer
a series of "Key Questions":
What is the
environmental
significance of the "0"
line on the E-P map?
Hands on experiments
Salinity difference
(35 ppt)
9-12: Explain the influence of ocean salinity on the
thermohaline circulation (e.g., “global conveyer belt”)
Temperature difference
(30 deg C)
Karp-Boss et al. (2009)
http://tos.org/hands-on/teaching_phys.html
Visualizations
Density
Thermohaline circulation
http://aquarius.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery-animations.html
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio
Advanced students can use
interactive tools to explore
historical salinity, temperature
& density data from the World
Ocean Atlas (2005).
Guided by a "Q & A" format,
users can create maps, in-water
profiles & time-series graphs.
Direct links to Interactive
Tools & Tutorials
http://aquarius.jpl.nasa.gov
Annual mean maps & In-water profiles: Salinity, temperature & density
Annual mean maps & In-water profiles: Salinity, temperature & density
Annual mean maps & In-water profiles: Salinity, temperature & density
Annual mean maps & In-water profiles: Salinity, temperature & density
Can choose up to
six locations at once
Annual mean maps & In-water profiles: Salinity, temperature & density
Annual mean maps & In-water profiles: Salinity, temperature & density
Annual mean maps & In-water profiles: Salinity, temperature & density
Advanced students can use
interactive tools to explore
historical salinity, temperature
& density data from the World
Ocean Atlas (2005).
Guided by a "Q & A" format,
users can create maps, in-water
profiles & time-series graphs.
Direct links to Interactive
Tools & Tutorials
http://aquarius.jpl.nasa.gov
Monthly mean
maps
&
Time-series
graphs
Salinity,
Temperature &
Density
from 1 - 6
depths
Monthly mean
maps
&
Time-series
graphs
Salinity,
Temperature &
Density
from 1 - 6
depths
Monthly mean
maps
&
Time-series
graphs
Salinity,
Temperature &
Density
from 1 - 6
depths
Monthly mean
maps
&
Time-series
graphs
Salinity,
Temperature &
Density
from 1 - 6
depths
Monthly mean
maps
&
Time-series
graphs
Salinity,
Temperature &
Density
from 1 - 6
depths
Monthly mean
maps
&
Time-series
graphs
Salinity,
Temperature &
Density
from 1 - 6
depths
Interactive tools include
annual salinity, temperature,
and density data (1800-2005)
to answer these questions:
Were the oceans as salty a
hundred years ago?
Can we answer that question?
Why do we care?
http://aquarius.jpl.nasa.gov/
Quick link to
climate data
“Student outcomes” resources database (examples)
Grades K-4
Grades 5-8
Grades 9-12
Water Cycle
Explain that evaporation
can separate the water
from the salt in salt water
Explain how the processes
of the water cycle relate to
the ocean
Explain relationships
between fresh water &
ocean dynamics
Ocean
Circulation
Describe connections
Explain the effect of
between ocean salt water
density on ocean
& fresh water in water cycle circulation
Explain the influence of
ocean salinity on the
thermohaline circulation
Climate
Compare climates based on
precipitation, temperature
& distance from ocean
Explain the ocean holds a
large amount of heat & its
effect on climate
Describe how changes in
ocean circulation can
produce changes in climate
21st Century
Technology
Explain that satellites can
make measurements at a
distance
Gather, analyze & interpret
data about the ocean’s
effects on climate
Explain how technology can
enhance the gathering & use
of oceanic data
http://aquarius.nasa.gov/education-outcomes.html
Where can you find these tools &
resources?
http://aquarius.nasa.gov/education.html
For more information, please contact:
Annette deCharon
<annette.decharon@maine.edu>
Thank you!