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Ocean Layers and Temperature
Thermocline (blue)
Surface Zone (green)
Answer Key
DEPTH (METERS)
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 3200 3400 3600 3800 4000
Deep Zone (purple)
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© 2007 AIMS Education Foundation
TEMPERATURE (°CELSIUS)
Key Question
What are the layers of
the ocean?
Learning Goals
• collaboratively construct a model of
the layers and temperature ranges in
the ocean,
• construct a circle graph of the layers
of the ocean, and
• compare and contrast the two models.
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© 2007 AIMS Education Foundation
1. Oceanographers divide the ocean into
three layers.
1. The temperature at 1100 meters is
about 4° Celsius
2. The temperature at 700 meters is
about 7° Celsius.
2. The thermocline is the middle layer.
Color it blue.
3. The layer below the thermocline is the
thickest layer. Color it purple.
3. The temperature at 100 meters is
about 22° Celsius.
4. The temperature at 600 meters
is about 9° Celsius.
4. Draw a line to graph
the temperatures.
5. The top of the deep zone
is about 800 meters.
5. Color the surface
zone green.
1. The temperature at 500 meters is
about 11° Celsius.
1. The temperature at 300 meters is
about 22° Celsius.
2. Draw a line between each layer and
color each after you have connected
your data points.
2. The temperature at 1300 meters is
about 4° Celsius and stays constant at
that temperature to the bottom of the
deep zone.
3. The temperature at the top of the deep
zone is about 5° Celsius.
3. The surface zone extends down from
the ocean’s surface to an average
depth of 300 meters.
4. The temperature at 400 meters
is about 18° Celsius.
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4. Label the layers.
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© 2007 AIMS Education Foundation
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© 2007 AIMS Education Foundation
TEMPERATURE (°CELSIUS)
0
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26
DEPTH (METERS)
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 3200 3400 3600 3800 4000
Ocean Layers and Temperature
Graph the data to compare the
sizes of the different
temperature layers.
Each sector equals
200 meters.
Record the
percentage of
each layer.
(Use 4000
meters
as the
whole)
KEY
In your journal compare and contrast the
information from the two graphic organizers.
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© 2007 AIMS Education Foundation
Connecting Learning
1. What are the three temperature
layers of the ocean?
2. Why do you think scientists divide
the ocean into layers?
3. Why do you think the temperatures in
the surface zone and deep zone are fairly
constant?
4. What are the advantages of using different
graphic organizers to show the same
information? What are the disadvantages?
5. If you could only have one graphic organizer
to show the temperature zones of the ocean,
which one would you choose? Why would you
choose this one?
6. What conclusions can you make about
the depth of the ocean as it relates to
temperature?
7. What are you wondering now?
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© 2007 AIMS Education Foundation