[11-May-2019] Students explore how unequal heating of Earth's surface by the sun drives global ocean circulation patterns in this media-rich lesson plan from WGBH. Through an interactive lesson and data visualizations from NASA, students investigate how phenomena such as surface winds and ocean water density are involved in large-scale ocean circulation patterns and heat transport, with a focus on the Atlantic Ocean. They are also introduced to other elements of ocean heat transport, such as gyres and eddies. By the end of the lesson, students will have a basic understanding of how the ocean redistributes heat around the planet.

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