Dissolved Gases and Ocean Temperatures: Estimating the average temperature of the ocean using gases trapped in the ice.

CategoryIce Core Science

Science Standards1) Science and Engineering Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems; Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence. 2) Disciplinary Core Ideas: Earth’s Systems; Earth and Human Activity. 3) Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Explanation; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Systems and System Models; Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation; Stability and Change.

File TypeGoogle Doc with accompanying “Drill Deeper” video shorts

DescriptionIn this ICE Lab we will explore how atmospheric gases, trapped in ice that is millions of years old, can be used to estimate the average temperature of the ocean millions of years ago.

Exploration #1: Dissolved Gases and a Warming Ocean (How does warming the ocean affect the amount of gas dissolved in the water, and the amount of gas released to the atmosphere?)
Exploration #2: Reconstructing Ocean Temperatures by Graphing Atmospheric Gas Ratios in Ancient Ice (How warm were the oceans millions of years ago? )

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Teacher Notes

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