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Florida International University *
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3202L
Subject
Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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5
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Ocean Circulation Lab Report
Introduction
Scientists use buoys to measure ocean conditions in specific locations over time. There are a
variety of different buoys deployed in the ocean; some are attached to the ocean floor, while
others drift freely in open waters. All ocean buoys, regardless of type, report some physical
characteristic of the ocean or the atmosphere for later analysis. In this virtual lab activity, you
will use buoys to track a bottle as it travels on ocean currents worldwide.
Problem:
How can data from buoys be used to analyze ocean currents?
Hypothesis:
Predict the location each bottle came from using the tracking data in the
Data and
Observations
section and the world map of major ocean currents pictured below.
For example:
I predict bottle 1 is from north east and south west
, bottle 2 is from south west and south east
,
and bottle 3 is from north west and north east
based on the tracking data and world map of
currents.
Materials:
This lab will be done through a virtual lab scenario.
Tracking data is provided through this
online format.
Procedures:
1.
View the introduction animation. Move to the next section, “Which ocean current carried
my bottle?”
2.
Select bottle 1 to review its tracking data. The tracking data is also shown under
Data
and Observations
in this lab report.
3.
In the “Analyzing Ocean Buoy data” section, plot the tracking data for bottle 1 on the
world map to determine its starting location.
4.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other two bottles.
5.
Complete the
Questions and Conclusion
section of the lab report.
Variables:
For this investigation, list the independent, dependent, and controlled variables.
Data and Observations:
Students select a bottle and a series of dates, longitude and latitude data will appear. The data
will appear from most recent (where it was retrieved by the teacher) to least recent (close to
where it was launched), so plot backward to find the place of origination and the currents
involved in the bottle’s journey.
Bottle #1
Date
Longitude
Latitude
8/1/2010
30 N
80 W
7/25/2010
25 N
81 W
7/18/2010
20 N
85 W
7/11/2010
25 N
88 W
7/4/2010
28 N
90 W
6/27/2010
25 N
90 W
6/20/2010
15 N
88 W
6/13/2010
10 N
85 W
6/6/2010
8 N
70 W
5/30/2010
5 N
47 W
5/23/2010
0
45 W
5/16/2010
5 S
43 W
5/9/2010
10 S
40 W
5/2/2010
10 S
20 W
4/25/2010
8 S
5 W
Bottle #2
Date
Longitude
Latitude
6/28/2010
30 S
45 W
6/21/2010
25 S
40 W
6/14/2010
20 S
35 W
6/7/2010
20 S
30 W
5/31/2010
20 S
5 W
5/24/2010
25 S
0
5/17/2010
28 S
5 E
5/10/2010
30 S
10 E
5/3/2010
32 S
15 E
4/26/2010
35 S
10 E
4/19/2010
35 S
0
4/12/2010
35 S
20 W
4/5/2010
45 S
30 W
3/29/2010
46 S
35 W
3/22/2010
43 S
45 W
Bottle #3
Date
Longitude
Latitude
7/24/2010
30 N
115 W
7/17/2010
40 N
120 W
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7/10/2010
45 N
135 W
7/3/2010
45 N
140 W
6/26/2010
45 N
170 W
6/19/2010
48 N
178 W
6/12/2010
48 N
145 E
6/5/2010
55 N
175 E
5/29/2010
60 N
178 E
5/22/2010
58 N
175 W
5/15/2010
50 N
170 W
5/8/2010
58 N
140 W
5/1/2010
60 N
137 W
4/24/2010
55 N
136 W
4/17/2010
45 N
135 W
Questions and Conclusion:
1.
Refer to your plotted points on the map for each of the bottles. What are the names of
the major surface currents each bottle could have followed? antarctic circumpolar
current north and south equatorial
2.
Based on your knowledge of ocean currents, where did each bottle originate? Brazil
3.
Is it possible the bottles could have followed different currents? If so, what were the
other possible originations for each bottle? yeah it could be possible that some follow
other ones like south africa or or the north equator
4.
What kinds of factors could hinder the forward progress of a message in a bottle in an
ocean current? What factors could aid the movement? any living animal or land
underwater
5.
In the lesson, you learned about a debris convergence zone, or “garbage patch,” that
can form in the center of the Pacific Ocean. How is the formation of this patch related to
ocean currents? Where else in the world’s oceans are garbage patches likely to form?
its related to ocean currents by showing how trash gets caught up in the currents and it
shows where its lead therefore by the garbage patch and they can form anywhere like
the atlantic or pacific
6.
Hundreds of millions of years ago, all the continents on Earth were connected to form a
giant “supercontinent” called Pangaea. How might ocean currents have differed during
the time of Pangaea compared to today? Explain your answer. they could have differed
because instead of multiple lands it was change one big large mass nothing was broken
up to divide the flow of the water so it all could’ve flowed in one direction
7.
How did your predictions match the tracking data for each bottle? they didnt match
8.
How could you further test your conclusion on each bottle’s origination? How could you
confirm the bottle’s starting point? by seeing how the temperature of the sun or water
affected the bottles shape