geology

Sea Surface Temperature

Note: If you forgot how the latitude and longitude coordinate system works, please

review the information provided in the Latitude and Longitude lab.

For this lab, you will be making scientific observations and interpretations about the

Earth’s oceans, after plotting sea surface temperatures given latitude and longitude. I

recommend that you print the map and table, plot the locations on the map, and fill in the

table. Then, use the map and table to answer questions on our online class site so that

you can then get credit for the laboratory exercise.

Using the latitude and longitude coordinates provided, plot the position of each of the

locations provided in the table on the next page. To make it easier to see patterns and

make your observations, use red for plotting warmer ocean water (at or above 22° C),

green for intermediate temperature ocean water (10° - 21° C), and blue for cool

temperature ocean water (at or below 9° C). If you don’t have colored pencils, you could

also choose to use symbols, such as circles, triangles, and squares for warm, intermediate,

and cool temperature water, respectively. In addition, complete the table below.

Look on the map to look for patterns and make interpretations from the data. Answer the

following questions:

 Which latitudes tend to have warmer water?

 Which latitudes tend to have intermediate temperature water?

 Which latitudes tend to have cooler water?

Seasons occur due to the tilt of the Earth as it travels around the Sun. It is not from being

closer to the sun at different times of the year, which is a common misconception. Earth

is tilted 23.5° from the perpendicular to the ecliptic (the plane of Earth’s orbit around the

Sun). When the North Pole it tilted toward the Sun, the northern hemisphere gets more

direct rays from the sun, which means it is summer for that hemisphere. When the North

Pole is tilted away from the Sun, the northern hemisphere gets less direct rays, which is

winter for that hemisphere. Therefore, the northern and southern hemispheres experience

opposite seasons. When it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in the

southern hemisphere, and vice versa.

 Which season was it in the northern hemisphere when this data was taken?

 Which season was it in the northern hemisphere when this data was taken?

Use the map, the table, and your answers from the above questions in to answer the

questions on our online class site for this lab.

Table 1: sea surface temperatures (SST) for various locations around the world. Courtesy

of NOAA.

Latitude Longitude SST (°C)

Warm (≥22° C),

Intermediate

(10°-21° C),

or cool (≤9° C)

30 S 0 21

75 N 0 4

15 N 120 W 25

15 S 135 W 30

60 S 135 W 6

60 S 15 W 2

45 N 150 W 6

15 N 150 W 25

30 S 165 W 30

30 N 30 W 20

45 S 30 W 15

15 N 30 W 25

45 N 45 W 6

15 N 45 W 26

0 105 W 32

30 S 90 W 22

45 S 135 E 14

30 N 150 E 22

0 165 E 34

15 N 60 E 28

45 S 60 E 10

15 S 75 E 32

30 S 90 E 21

0°

30° N

60° N

90° N

60° S

30° S

90° S

0° 30° E 30° W 90° E 90° W 150° E 150° W