Climate Variability in the Equatorial Pacific

Cindy Shellito, University of Northern Colorado, InTeGrate, SERC

In this activity, students work with climate data from the tropical Pacific Ocean to understand how sea-surface temperature and atmospheric pressure affect precipitation in the tropical Pacific in a case study format.

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Notes from our reviewers

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It would be useful for instructors to show a larger map (that includes the continents) in the very beginning of the unit so students can better visualize the part of the ocean the activity is focused on. This activity can be taught in a jigsaw format, with different groups of students examining separate types of data, and then sharing their findings. Alternatively, educators can skip the jigsaw format and have the students look at all three data types. This activity can be paired with Case Study 2.2 in this unit, [link http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/teaching_materials/climate_change/casestudy2-2.html] This activity can be used prior to an introduction to the El Niño - Southern Oscillation, which is Unit 3 in this module [link http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/teaching_materials/climate_change/unit3.html]. Suggestions to the instructor are included in the activity overview.
This activity engages students in examining tropical Pacific pressure, sea-surface temperature, and precipitation data over a 10-year time span. Comments from expert scientist: Excellent educational resource on all levels. - Relevant to today's biggest issues - Requires a strong sense of interpretation of widely-used data - Requires communication between group members and classmates - Interpretations of both means and anomalies is great - definitely want to discuss with the class the differences between the two and where they are derived from Suggestion: In my experience teaching ENSO material, it was really important to clarify that pressure is ATMOSPHERIC pressure...
This exercise helps students become familiar with the idea that scientists learn about relationships in the climate system by looking at changes in the oceans and atmosphere over a period of years. Students are engaged with map-based data plots and a set of questions that help them work through the meaning of the plots. Students show their understanding of the concepts by completing a set of questions and by debriefing the class on their findings. An answer key is provided.