DO NOT WRITE ON THE PAPER!!!
OCEANOGRAPHY
Think About It!
You are an oceanographer and you have been studying in a top secret tropical
region for the past year. You have collected information about water temperature,
dissolved gases, nutrients, salinity, and life in the marine ecosystem. All data is well
balanced and looking good! You are very excited because the region you have been
assigned is not only paradise on land but as an oceanographer you have “struck gold”
because there is an estuary and coral reef within miles of your lab. You also know that
this region usually has a more moderate climate than other surrounding regions which is
great for business!
However, there have been some concerns about the popularity of the region being
on the rise! This means problems for your wonderful and flourishing ecosystems. You
hate to complain too much but more humans building for all their tourist desires and with
it becoming more known about the moderate climate here, fishermen seem to be flocking
here by the 100s.
There is more bad news on the horizon. Unfortunately, there is news of the El
Nino season, which could mean lots of changes for your ecosystems. There have been
some violent storms nearby already and you are worried about the possibility of a
tsunami as well. This area is known for large tsunamis in the past.
1. What might be helping to create such a moderate climate and well-balanced
ecosystem in this region? EXPLAIN!!!! (3 points)
2. With the region attracting more people what effect will this have on the estuary?
How will the water quality change? What could change with marine life there?
EXPLAIN!!!! (3 points)
3. With the region attracting more people what effect will this have on the coral
reef? How will the water quality change? What could change with marine life
there? EXPLAIN!!!! (3 points)
4. What changes could come about because of an El Nino season for the marine
ecosystems? (Temperature, nutrients, marine life, salinity, etc.) EXPLAIN!!!!
(4 points)
5. How is a tsunami formed? (1 point)
6. If a tsunami reached the shore how would that change the coral reef ecosystem?
How would it change the estuary? (Water quality, life, etc.) EXPLAIN!!!
(4 points)
7. You have been doing most of your studying by scuba diving. What changes
might you have to make in order to continue gathering information safely?
EXPLAIN!!! (2 points)
Total Possible Points: 20
Illustrate in a comparative drawing what your tropical region would look like before
and after fishermen and industries come.