Data in the Classroom

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into Earth’s atmosphere. This not only leads to a warmer Earth (i.e., global warming, the greenhouse effect), but also changes the chemistry of Earth’s oceans. The ocean is a “carbon sink,” which means that it removes CO2 from the atmosphere. The ocean currently absorbs about one-third of the CO2 released by the burning of fossil fuels. However, beyond a certain level of atmospheric CO2, the ocean can no longer act as a carbon sink without it having a negative impact on marine life. When CO2 dissolves in seawater, it leads to decreased pH levels.

Sea level is a good topic to study using real data, because of the interesting data sets that are available at different scales. Satellite data gives a global view, while a network of monitoring stations and buoys provide long-term data at specific locations around the United States. Many of these different observation systems from satellites and ground stations are part of the U.S. Ocean and Coastal Observing System. Charts of sea surface height data are excellent examples of the use of mathematical mean or average. Through these activities, students will learn how to interpret real data that is measured relative to an historical mean. 

Estuaries are an important component of complex and dynamic coastal watersheds. A partnership between NOAA and various coastal states, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) has established a network of coastal sites that are protected for long-term research, education, and stewardship. As part of the NERRS research mission, the System-wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) continually monitors an array of environmental factors throughout the reserve system. These lessons and accompanying online tools will introduce students to water quality monitoring using real data.