Name:
__________________________________
7th Grade
Science
Date: Monday, October 3, 2016
Homeroom:
_______________________________
Unit: Water’s Cycles
and Patterns
Lesson: WCP 21
OBJECTIVES: By the end of today’s lesson, you will be able to…
□ SWBAT Explain how currents affect climate.
□ SWBAT Describe the effects of El Niño.
□ SWBAT Explain how scientists study and predict the pattern of El Niño.
DO NOW
Match the correct description with the correct term. Write the letter in the space provided.
_____ 1. a streamlike movement of ocean water located far below
the surface
a. evaporation
b. deep current
_____ 2 . the amount of matter in a given space, or volume
_____ 3. a measure of the amount of dissolved salts or solids in a
liquid
c. density
d. salinity
_____ 4. a process which removes water but leaves solids behind
5. Why does ocean water that is covered by ice increase in density?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
6. Why does evaporation increase the density of ocean water?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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Class Notes
Surface Currents and Climate
• Warm-Water Currents and Climate:
____________________________________ create warmer climates
in coastal areas that would otherwise be much cooler.
2.
1.
• Cold-Water Currents and Climate :
___________________________________keep climates along a
coast cooler than the inland climate year-round.
2.
1.
2
• Upwelling:
_____________________________________________________________
water to the surface of the ocean.
•
The _________________that are brought to the _______________
support the growth of plankton. _________________ support
larger organisms, such as fish and seabirds.
• El Niño is a __________________________________________________
in the Pacific Ocean that produces a warm current.
• ________________________: alters ______________________________
enough to cause disasters, including flash floods, mudslides,
and droughts.
• El Niño also prevents _____________________ off the coast of
South America. Which affect what _________________________
live in the water.
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Guided Practice: We Do
How Do El Niño and La Niña Affect Climate?
Every 2 to 12 years, the South Pacific trade winds move less
warm water to the western Pacific than usual.
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
________
__________
__________
__________
__________
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__________
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__________
________
______________
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Sometimes, El Niño is followed by La Niña. La Niña happens ______________
As a result, surface-water temperatures along the west
coast of South America rise. Over time, this warming
spreads westward. This periodic change in the location of
warm and cool surface waters is called El Niño. El Niño
events can last a year or longer.
when surface-water temperatures in the eastern
Pacific becomes unusually cool. La Niña also affects
weather patterns.
_____________
_____________
EFFECTS OF EL NIÑO
El Niño can have a major effect on weather patterns. Flash _____________
floods and mudslides may happen in areas of the world
_____________
that usually receive little rain, such as Peru. Other areas of
_____________
the world, such as Indonesia and Australia, may receive less _____________
rain than usual.
_____________
_______
El Niño changes the way the ocean and atmosphere
interact. Changes in the weather during El Niño show how
the atmosphere, ocean, and weather patterns are related.
Scientists can predict the changes in the weather on land
that might be caused by El Niño by studying the
atmosphere and the ocean.
To study El Niño, scientists collect data with buoys anchored
to the ocean floor along the equator. The buoys record
data about water temperature, air temperature, currents,
and winds. The data sometimes show that the South Pacific
trade winds are weaker than usual. The data may also show
that the surface-water temperatures in the oceans have
increased. Either of these changes can tell scientists that El
Niño is likely to happen.
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___________
___________
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___________
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___________
___________
__________
Independent Practice: You Do
1. El Nino happens when there is warmer water near the west coast of South
America. Why do scientists collect information about air temperatures in order to
help them predict El Nino and La Nina?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Why do surface-water temperatures on the west coast of South America rise
during El Niño?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. City A and City B are the same height above sea level. Based on the figure
below, make a prediction about the average temperature in City A compared
to City B. Explain your answer.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____ 4.In what direction does cold water move during upwelling?
a. from north to south
b. away from the land
c. toward the ocean surface
d. toward the ocean floor
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El Niño
Read the description. Then draw a line from the dot next to each description to
the matching word.
•
•
•
•
5. change in Pacific Ocean water
temperature that produces a warm
current
6. makes Pacific Ocean water
temperature cooler than usual
7. a long period of time with no rain
8. collects information about
temperature, currents, and winds to
help predict El Niño
a. La Niña
b. drought
c. NOAA
d. El Niño
_____ 1. Warmer climates in coastal areas that would otherwise be much cooler may be
created by
a. cold-water currents.
b. warm-water currents.
c. deep currents.
d. breaking currents.
_____ 2. Where does the Gulf Stream get its warmth?
a. from the Tropics
b. from the North Atlantic
c. from the British Isles
d. from Newfoundland
_____ 3. The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Tropics to
a. the South Atlantic Ocean.
b. the South Pacific Ocean.
c. the North Atlantic Ocean.
d. the North Pacific Ocean.
_____ 4. Currents that can keep coastal regions cooler than the inland climate year-round
are
a. cold-water currents.
b. warm-water currents.
c. deep currents.
d. breaking currents.
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_____ 5. The California Current carries cold water to Mexico from
a. the South Atlantic Ocean.
c. the North Atlantic Ocean.
b. the South Pacific Ocean.
d. the North Pacific Ocean.
_____ 6. Cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean rises to the surface and replaces
warm surface water in a process called
a.the Coriolis effect.
c. El Niño.
b. upwelling.
d. La Niña.
_____ 7. When upwelling takes place, cold water from the deep ocean
a. moves further out to sea.
c. rises to the surface.
b. causes photosynthesis.
d. gets replaced by warm water.
8.In what ocean do El Niño and La Niña form?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
9. What is El Niño? What is La Niña?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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10. What are two changes in weather patterns caused by El Niño that can cause disasters?
______________________________________________________________
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12. Why is it important for scientists to learn as much as possible about El Niño?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
13. What four things does the network of NOAA-operated buoys record?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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8
Name:
__________________________________
7th Grade
Science
Date: October 3, 2016
Unit: Water’s Cycles and
Patterns
Lesson: WCP 21
DNG?
Strive Due Date:
Homeroom:
___________________________
A
B
_______/5 = ________%
C
D
F
Match the correct description with the correct term. Write the letter in the space provided.
_____ 1. type of current that creates warmer climates along a
coastal area
a. California Current
b. cold-water
_____ 2. type of current that creates cooler climates in coastal
areas
d. El Niño
_____ 3. name of the ocean current that cools the West Coast of
the United States
g. buoys
_____ 4. the movement of cold, nutrient-rich water to the
surface of the ocean
f. La Niña
i. upwelling
j. warm-water
_____ 5. a change in the water temperature of the Pacific Ocean
that produces a warm surface current
_____ 6. a change in the water temperature of the eastern Pacific Ocean that produces
cooler than usual surface water temperatures
_____ 7. used by NOAA to collect data to predict an El Niño
8. Many marine organisms depend on upwelling to bring nutrients to the surface. How might
El Niño affect a fisher’s way of life?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
9. Name two disasters caused by El Niño.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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