Essay About Ocean Literacy And Earths Lithospheric Plates

Ocean Literacy
Ocean Literacy
OCEAN LITERACY: ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES AND FUAMENTAL CONCEPTS
EACH ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLE IS SUPPORTED BY FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS COMPARABLE TO THOSE UNDERLYING THE NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS (NSES).
CONSULT THE OVERVIEW MATRIX (OPPOSITE) TO INTEGRATE OCEAN LITERACY INTO YOUR CURRICULUM.
a The ocean is the dominant physical feature on our planet
Earth—covering approximately 70% of the planets surface.
There is one ocean with many ocean basins, such as the
North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic,
Indian and Arctic.
b An ocean basins size, shape and features (islands, trenches,
mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys) vary due to the movement
of Earths lithospheric plates. Earths highest peaks, deepest
valleys and flattest vast plains are all in the ocean.
c Throughout the ocean there is one interconnected circulation
system powered by wind, tides, the force of the Earths
rotation (Coriolis effect), the Sun, and water density
differences. The shape of ocean basins and adjacent land
masses influence the path of circulation.
The Earth has one big ocean
with many features.
a The ocean controls weather and climate by dominating
the Earths energy, water and carbon systems.
b The ocean absorbs much of the solar radiation reaching
Earth. The ocean loses heat by evaporation. This heat loss
drives atmospheric circulation when, after it is released into
the atmosphere as water vapor, it condenses and forms rain.
Condensation of water evaporated from warm seas provides
the energy for hurricanes and cyclones.
c The El Niño Southern Oscillation causes important changes
in global weather patterns because it changes the way heat
is released to the atmosphere in the Pacific.
d Sea level is the average height of the ocean relative to the
land, taking into account the differences caused by tides.
Sea level changes as plate tectonics cause the volume of
ocean basins and the height of the land to change. It changes
as ice caps on land melt or grow. It also changes as sea water
expands and contracts when ocean water warms and cools.
1 The ocean and life in the ocean
2 shape the features of the Earth.
a Many earth materials and geochemical cycles originate in
the ocean. Many of the sedimentary rocks now exposed
on land were formed in the ocean. Ocean life laid down
the vast volume of siliceous and carbonate rocks.
b Sea level changes over time have expanded and contracted
continental shelves, created and destroyed inland seas, and
shaped the surface of land.
c Erosion—the wearing away of rock, soil and other biotic
and abiotic earth materials—occurs in coastal areas as wind,
waves, and currents in rivers and the ocean move sediments.
d Sand consists of tiny bits of animals, plants, rocks and
minerals. Most beach sand is eroded from land sources and
The ocean is a major influence
on weather and climate. 3
d Most rain that falls on land originally evaporated from
the tropical ocean.
e The