Earth Science Assignment

Objective 2: Describe characteristics of the ocean, including movement, topography, life, and effects on the planet.

With over 70 percent of the planet’s surface covered by water, most of which is in the world’s seas and oceans, the oceans’ most important role is to regulate Earth’s weather and climate. Humans are very interactive with and influenced by the oceans.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/issues/coast…, “Half the world’s population lives within 60 km (37 miles) of the sea, and three-quarters of all large cities are located on the coast.”

The World Bank, http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSDNET/0,,contentMDK:23168627~pagePK:64885161~piPK:64884432~theSitePK:5929282,00.html, states that about 61% of the GNP for the world is produced within 62 miles of the coast. The oceans are an important food producing source, producing 16% of the protein consumed in the world but overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss have led to degradation of the oceans.

Humans need to be good stewards and manage the ocean resources better to ensure that the oceans are healthy, biodiverse, and productive.

Learning Activity #3: Ocean Exercise

• Read Chapter 12 in the textbook.
• Research the characteristics of the ocean, including movement, topography, life, and effects on the planet.
• Submission Item: Write a short explanation response, addressing the following:
  
• Tides (causes and patterns)
• Landforms
• Sea level rise (thermal expansion, glacier melt, subsidence)

Objective 3: Illustrate the components of atmosphere, clouds, and precipitation.

”Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.”
Generally attributed to Mark Twain

Why should I care about the weather? Well, for one reason, the weather directly affects your health. (http://www.weather.com/health/news/13-ways-weather-affects-your-health-without-you-knowing-20140613?pageno=2#/1)

When the atmospheric pressure goes down, your blood pressure drops. Many people can feel the change in their sinuses and may suffer from headaches. Other people get joint pains before a storm. On cold, cloudy days, people are more likely to have bad moods; during a cold front the blood gets thicker and diabetics have more trouble controlling their blood sugar. Nationwide for every 1.8 F degree drop in temperature there are 200 more heart attacks. Colds transfer better during cold weather, but it can be harder to breathe in hot, humid weather.

Another reason to care about the weather is that the weather has a very big impact on the local, state, and national economies. When to plant, when to harvest, electricity demands, and costs of storms are all affected by the weather. Mortality rates spike during hot and cold waves. Your health, life, and livelihood depend on the weather.

Learning Activity #4: Weather Exercise

• Read Chapter 14 in the textbook.
• Submission Item: Create a visual representation and explanation, or short explanation/response, including the following.
  • Humidity (evaporation, relative humidity and precipitation, and dew points)
  • Types of clouds
  • Winds (Coriolis effect and high/low pressure systems)

  Objective 4: Demonstrate weather patterns in context of forecasting.
  

  
  
  

  “The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.”
  

  Ecclesiastes 1:6
  

  
  
  The global circulation carries heat from the equator to the poles but it is currently impossible to predict the weather with 100% accuracy, just like in John 3:8, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going…”
  

  Learning Activity #5: Forecasting Presentation
  
  
  
  
  

  o
  Read Chapter 15 in the textbook.
  -Create an 8-10 slide deck (PowerPoint) outlining the following topics:
  -Global circulation
  -Common weather symbols
  -Air masses
  -Types of fronts
  -Thunderstorms
  -Tornadoes
  -Hurricanes
  -El Niño
  
  
  
  
  -To achieve maximum points for content and analysis, the following elements need to be thoroughly addressed.
  -Causes
  -Effects
  -Measuring
  
  
  

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  Ensure that you have cited and referenced at least two scholarly sources.
• Ensure that you have a title slide and reference slide, in addition to your 8-10 slides. Any images you use must also be referenced. Be aware of copyright laws! A good source for images is Wikipedia Commons, which provides the source for you.