Question

Data Collection - Sea Surface Temperatures Instructions: You will need to view the colored maps of the Pacific Ocean (3) for this activity. Record temperatures of the sea surface into the table. You will use the longitude numbers along the bottom of the map, and the colors that are shown in the key along the right axis, to determine the SST along the equator.

Tip for understanding the map: Beginning with Map A, locate 120°E on the x-axis of the map. Use your finger to follow that imaginary line of longitude up to the equator line. Observe the color of the water in the spot on the map where your imaginary longitude line meets the equator. Find that color on the color key all the way to the right. Write the estimated temperature in the table to the right in the top left empty box for Map A and 120°E. Continue working your way right across the map, doing the same thing for each longitude location. ​

Answer 1

The question involves a High School Geography project that focuses on analyzing sea surface temperatures and Antarctic sea ice extent data, graphing trends, and understanding global warming impacts.

Step-by-step explanation:

Data Collection and Analysis in Geography

Students are engaged in an activity that includes recording sea surface temperatures (SST) by interpreting colored maps of the Pacific Ocean and using data on Antarctic sea ice extent measured in March from 1980 to 2018. This activity combines skills in geography with an understanding of global warming trends and the implications for sea ice extent. In this exercise, the line of best fit is calculated to analyze trends in data, and students are tasked with understanding the underlying geographic factors such as latitude, elevation, and proximity to the ocean that can influence temperature patterns.

The task involves graphing original data, drawing a line of best fit, and calculating the slope of the line in order to answer questions about the changing extent of sea ice in the southern hemisphere, the variability of the data, and the reasons behind that variability. In addition, students learn about the effects of global warming on sea level rise through calculations involving temperature changes and expansion of water columns.