Advanced 
Hydrosphere
Activities
 
 
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3
Project 4
Project 5
 Answer Keys
 

Project 1: Analyzing Yearly Sea Surface Temperature Data
 
In the table on the right are gif images of global sea surface temperatures for the years 1982 through 1992. Have the students complete the following steps (also printed out on the student worksheet): 
1) Save every image as either a TIFF or a PICT (directions) 
2) Use image processing software to create a animated movie. (software) 
3) Answer the questions on the student worksheet about SST for various years. 

If you do not have the necessary software, the software link above will lead you to the proper sites to download the software.  Also, you may want to print out for the students the directions for saving an image and making a movie in NIH Image. 

Important Notes: Because of differences in NIH Image (Mac) and Scion Image (PC), the formula given for converting temperatures may be inaccurate.  If the given formula is giving obviously impossible answers, change it to: C = DN * .15 - 2.1 
Also, the (X,Y) location values given may also be incorrect.  Check before assigning this project to the students.
Global Sea Surface Temperatures
 Table 1
1982 1983 1984
1985 1986 1987
1988 1989 1990
1991 _ 1992
 
 
table for students 
student worksheet 
answer key 

Project 2: Focus on the 1997-98 El Nino
 
There are several stories on the World Wide Web related to the 1997-1998 El-Nino.  Students can check these links (or the local library) to read stories about the 1997-98 El-Nino, and report on one of their favorite ones to the class.  The stories should have the theme of how El-Nino has affected the weather, but the report can take any theme.  Some Internet sites are:
 
Los Angeles Times' El-Nino Page CNN's El-Nino Page El-Nino in the news - from ENN
El-Nino in the News - from PMEL Newspaper and Magazine Links El-Nino Grande - from the SF Chronicler
El-Nino of 1997-98 The Canadian El-Nino bulletin Brief Reports about El-Nino

page of El-Nino and La-Nina links for students


Project 3: Global Changes caused by El-Nino and La Nina

A La Nina event is basically the opposite of an El-Nino.  In this activity, we will examine sea surface temperatures from 1982-1983 (a severe El-Nino), 1991-1992 (a mild El Nino), and 1988-1989 (a La Nina episode), and look at weather events that occurred world wide during those years.
 
Students will be using the following Global Sea Surface Temperature images for the activity:
 
SST Maps for July 1982 - June 1983 SST Maps for July 1988 - June 1989 SST Maps for July 1991 - June 1992
Table 2
July 1982 November March
August December April
September January May
October February June 1983
 
Table 3
July 1988 November March
August December April
September January May
October February June 1989
 
Table 4
July 1991 November March
August December April
September January May
October February June 1992
 
 
For this activity, it would probably be best to put the students in groups of three.
The groups will do the following:
1) Using Gif Converter (Mac) or Paint Shop Pro (PC) or other similar software, convert each gif image to a TIFF or PICT
    image. (software)
2) Make 3 animated movies; one for each set of images. (directions)
3) Observe the animated movies; then answer the questions on the student worksheet.

1982-1983 SST table for students
1988-1989 SST table for students
1991-1992 SST table for students
student worksheet
answer key

Notes: The images in this Project have borders on both the left side and the top of each image.  Therefore, when performing any test, students should not place their cursor with the X or Y value equal to 0, since this is not part of the sea, it is a border.
It might be a good idea to remind them that when creating the animations to open the tiffs in chronological order, so that the first one is July (of that year), the second is August, etc.

Extension to Project 3: As of this writing (7/1/98), the sea surface temperature data for the El-Nino of 1997-98 is not available.  However, it should be on-line soon at this site.  Since this El-Nino was even more severe than the 1982-83 El-Nino, the students could repeat the activity and compare this El Nino with the other two highlighted above.


Project 4: Weather Extension to Project 3:
Once the students have completed the above activity, go to the table linked below to check out the weather in various parts of the United States during the periods of the El Ninos and the La Nina.  They will use the table, along with knowledge gained from the above activity and other links, to complete the student worksheet.

The information for the table linked below was found at some of the following sites:
National Climatic Data Center: Normal Monthly Precipitation
National Climatic Data Center: Normal Daily Mean Temperature
National Climatic Data Center: U.S. Monthly Precipitation Site
U.S. Historical Climatology Network

 table of temperature and precipitation data
student worksheet for precipitation amounts student worksheet for temperatures
answer key for precipitation amounts answer key for temperatures
Extensions to Project 4:
A) Use the National Climatic Data Center sites and the US Historical Climatology Network sites to study other how other cities' precipitation and temperature is affected not only by the 1982-83 and 1991-93 El Ninos and the 1988-89 La-Nina, but other El-Ninos and La-Ninas as well.  Listings of occurrences of both are linked below.
 
1) University of Massachusetts 4) From the Climate Prediction Center 
2) El-Nino years from Gallaudet University  5) Graph showing El-Ninos and La-Ninas since 1950 
3) From Stormfax  6) Graph showing El-Ninos and La-Ninas since 1876
 B) Use either (or both) average monthly high temperatures or average monthly low temperatures (rather than average monthly temperatures) to determine the effects of El-Nino.  Students can check to see if this changes their perception of how El-Nino affects certain cities.


Project 5: World Map of the Effects of El-Nino and La-Nina:
Assign each student an area of the world that is affected by El-Nino and/or La-Nina. Since almost every continent is affected in some way, you could assign several different locations.  Have the students visit the pages linked below in order to prepare a short (2 to 4 paragraphs) report describing how El-Nino and/or La-Nina affects on their assigned area.
Next, have them write, draw, or cut and paste icons representing their findings on a large world map.  Two maps should probably be used: one map showing the effects of El-Nino, the other map for La-Nina.  These maps should be fairly large (somewhere around three by five feet) so they are easy for the students to use.  The maps will then be displayed in the classroom (or outside the classroom) as a bulletin board.  Some Internet sites are:
 
1982 El-Nino: The worst there ever was Southeast Regional Climate Center TOGA-TAO and the 1991-93 El-Nino
1982-83 Temperatures in Winnipeg Jet Stream Comparison Precipitation Anomalies of El Ninos
1982 El Nino: highlights La-Nina - from NOAA Comparisons of Different El-Ninos
El Nino History: 1982-83 Temperature and Precipitation Data ENSO Impacts around the world
1982-83 El Nino Chronologically La-Nina 1988-89 Storm Fax world wide
Another Chronology  Canadian temps during El-Nino/La-Nina El-Nino causes weather havoc
Economic Effects of 1982-83 El-Nino The El-Nino that wouldn't die - 1991-93 Global Impact of El-Nino
page of El-Nino and La-Nina links for students

Answer Keys
 
answer key for quick quiz answer key for worksheet #1 answer key for worksheet #2
answer key for worksheet #3 answer key for worksheet #4