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Dec 6, 2023
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Exploration Exercise #2 Worksheet
Please see the module page titled “Exploration Exercise 2 (Guidelines, Worksheet, and Quiz)”
for information on the purpose, tasks, and criteria for this assignment.
Background:
The profiles we will investigate in this exercise were created as part of the World Ocean
Circulation Experiment (WOCE) and were collected from research ships that travelled from
south to north along the longitude line of 150°W, along the way stopping and measuring
temperature, salinity, and other water characteristics from the sea surface to the seafloor. If you
want to learn more about this data, see this page (Introduction and Table of Contents for the
WOCE Data).
Questions for Exploration: Temperature
The first profile we will review is on this webpage is Temperature for P16 150°W, posted to
module page for this exercise. Using the temperature profile, answer these questions:
1. These data were collected from research ships that travelled from south to north along the
longitude line of 150°W. Looking at this map, in what ocean were these data collected?
Pacific Ocean
2. What is the highest temperature on the profile? What is the lowest temperature on the
profile? Report your answer in both °C and °F. (You will have to convert to °F, using an online
temperature conversion tool, such as this one:
http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm
The highest is 28 °C or 83 °F. The lowest is -1.5 °C or 29.3 °F
3. Looking at the profile, at which latitudes and water depth do you observe the highest
temperature? Why? Describe in terms of the processes that affect ocean water temperature in
this particular location. Use section 6.1 of your text to help you answer this question.
7° south temperature is 28°C. This location is closest to the equator which gets
the most direct sunlight.
4. Looking at the profile, at which latitudes and water depth do you observe the lowest
temperature? Why? Describe in terms of the processes that affect ocean water temperature in
this particular location. Use section 6.1 of your text to help you answer this question.
About 60° South of the equator the temperature is -1.5°C at the water depth of 50
meters down. This is because 60° is farther away from the equator meaning less sunlight.
5. Find 60°S on both the profile and on the map of globe (remember: the transect was at
150°W). Describe what the temperature like from the surface to the bottom and explain why we
see this pattern. Use section 6.1 of your text to help you answer this question.
The temperature at 60° south at the surface doesn’t change much to the bottom. It
does show that at one point the farther down you go it actually warms up just a bit.
6. Find 5°S on both the profile and on the map of globe (remember: the transect was at 150°W).
Describe what the temperature is like from the surface to the bottom, and explain and explain
why we see this pattern. Be specific in your answer.
The temperature at 5° south is 28 °C and also the hottest temperature is at the
surface and the farther down you go the cooler it becomes.
7. At 60°S and at 5°S, we see many contour lines closely bunched together near the surface of
the ocean. This indicates a rapid change in temperature with depth. Using your knowledge from
your readings, what do we call a rapid change in temperature with depth?
Thermocline
Questions for Exploration: Salinity
The second profile we will review is Salinity for P16 150°W. This profile is similar to the previous
one, but shows salinity instead of temperature. Use the salinity profile to answer these
questions:
8. The contour lines on this profile give values that range from 34 to 35.5. But, these numbers
have no units. Using your knowledge from Chapter 5, what are the units of measurement on this
salinity data?
Evapaorating a carefully weighed of seawater and weighing the salts that
precipitated from it.
9. Looking at the profile, at which latitudes and water depth do you observe the highest salinity?
Why? Describe in terms of the processes that affect ocean water salinity in this particular
location. Use Section 5.4 of your text to help you with this.
At about 50-100 meters, 17° South. In the ocean, water is mainly being taken away
from seawater causing the salnitity to go up.
10. Looking at the profile, at which latitudes and water depth do you observe the lowest salinity?
Why? Describe in terms of the processes that affect ocean water salinity in this particular
location. Use Section 5.4 of your text to help you with this.
11. Find 60°S on both the profile and on the map of globe (remember: the transect was at
150°W). Describe what the salinity is like from the surface to the bottom, and explain which
processes affect this. Use Section 5.4 of your text to help you with this.
12. Find 30°N on both the profile and on the map of globe (remember: the transect was at
150°W). Describe what the salinity is like from the surface to the bottom, and explain which
processes affect this. Use Section 5.4 of your text to help you with this.
13. As you learned in Chapter 5, a halocline is an area where salinity changes rapidly with
depth. Do you see evidence of a halocline anywhere on this profile? Where? Describe why we
see a halocline in this particular location by explaining the processes that impact ocean salinity.
Use Section 5.4 of your text to help you with this.
Extra Credit Question
At about 19°N, 155°W, the ship made a detour to stop and refuel and re-supply. This location
(fuel stop) is shown on your profile as the tallest black spike. Looking at your world map, where
(name of the place) did the ship stop to fuel and resupply?
Hawaii Islands
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