Ocean Circulation Lab Report

Introduction

Scientists use buoys to measure ocean conditions in specific locations over time. There are a
variety of different buoys deployed in the ocean; some are attached to the ocean floor, while
others drift freely in open waters. All ocean buoys, regardless of type, report some physical
characteristic of the ocean or the atmosphere for later analysis. In this virtual lab activity, you
will use buoys to track a bottle as it travels on ocean currents worldwide.
Problem:
How can data from buoys be used to analyze ocean currents?
Hypothesis:
Predict the location each bottle came from using the tracking data in the Data and
Observations section and the world map of major ocean currents pictured below.
For example:
I predict bottle 1 is from _________________, bottle 2 is from ____________, and bottle 3 is
from ______________ based on the tracking data and world map of currents.

Materials:
This lab will be done through a virtual lab scenario. Tracking data is provided through this
online format.
Procedures:
1. View the introduction animation. Move to the next section, “Which ocean current carried
my bottle?”
2. Select bottle 1 to review its tracking data. The tracking data is also shown under Data
and Observations in this lab report.

3. In the “Analyzing Ocean Buoy data” section, plot the tracking data for bottle 1 on the
world map to determine its starting location.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other two bottles.

5. Complete the Questions and Conclusion section of the lab report.

Variables:

For this investigation, list the independent, dependent, and controlled variables.

Data and Observations:

Students select a bottle and a series of dates, longitude and latitude data will appear. The data
will appear from most recent (where it was retrieved by the teacher) to least recent (close to
where it was launched), so plot backward to find the place of origination and the currents
involved in the bottle’s journey.

Bottle #1

Date Longitude Latitude

8/1/2010 30 N 80 W
7/25/2010 25 N 81 W
7/18/2010 20 N 85 W
7/11/2010 25 N 88 W
7/4/2010 28 N 90 W
6/27/2010 25 N 90 W
6/20/2010 15 N 88 W
6/13/2010 10 N 85 W
6/6/2010 8N 70 W
5/30/2010 5N 47 W
5/23/2010 0 45 W
5/16/2010 5S 43 W
5/9/2010 10 S 40 W
5/2/2010 10 S 20 W
4/25/2010 8S 5W
Bottle #2

Date Longitude Latitude

6/28/2010 30 S 45 W
6/21/2010 25 S 40 W
6/14/2010 20 S 35 W
6/7/2010 20 S 30 W
5/31/2010 20 S 5W
5/24/2010 25 S 0
5/17/2010 28 S 5E
5/10/2010 30 S 10 E
5/3/2010 32 S 15 E
4/26/2010 35 S 10 E
4/19/2010 35 S 0
4/12/2010 35 S 20 W
4/5/2010 45 S 30 W
3/29/2010 46 S 35 W
3/22/2010 43 S 45 W

Bottle #3

Date Longitude Latitude

7/24/2010 30 N 115 W
7/17/2010 40 N 120 W
7/10/2010 45 N 135 W
7/3/2010 45 N 140 W
6/26/2010 45 N 170 W
6/19/2010 48 N 178 W
6/12/2010 48 N 145 E
6/5/2010 55 N 175 E
5/29/2010 60 N 178 E
5/22/2010 58 N 175 W
5/15/2010 50 N 170 W
5/8/2010 58 N 140 W
5/1/2010 60 N 137 W
4/24/2010 55 N 136 W
4/17/2010 45 N 135 W

Questions and Conclusion:

1. Refer to your plotted points on the map for each of the bottles. What are the names of
the major surface currents each bottle could have followed?

2. Based on your knowledge of ocean currents, where did each bottle originate?
3. Is it possible the bottles could have followed different currents? If so, what were the
other possible originations for each bottle?

4. What kinds of factors could hinder the forward progress of a message in a bottle in an
ocean current? What factors could aid the movement?

5. In the lesson, you learned about a debris convergence zone, or “garbage patch,” that
can form in the center of the Pacific Ocean. How is the formation of this patch related to
ocean currents? Where else in the world’s oceans are garbage patches likely to form?

6. Hundreds of millions of years ago, all the continents on Earth were connected to form a
giant “supercontinent” called Pangaea. How might ocean currents have differed during
the time of Pangaea compared to today? Explain your answer.

7. How did your predictions match the tracking data for each bottle?

8. How could you further test your conclusion on each bottle’s origination? How could you
confirm the bottle’s starting point?