Thermohaline Circulation Video Voiceovers

A few weeks back, students were tasked with becoming experts on the process and impacts of the global Thermohaline circulation. Once experts, they then produced a video voiceover to explain their understandings. Here is just one of many excellent end results.

Ocean Floor Features

Want to climb the highest mountain on earth? First you will need to climb in to a deep ocean submersible and travel 4 miles to the bottom of the Pacific ocean before you begin your ascent. What is happening down there in the deep on the ocean floor?

Grade 11 and 12 have or will be studying ocean floor features and so this article is excellent extra reading with sections on seamount biodiversity, plate tectonics and underwater features and some excellent underwater relief maps highlighting the presence of trenches and ridges.

http://www.noaa.gov/resource-collections/ocean-floor-features

The future of population growth?

El Nino A Fish Tale

In the 1960s, colorful Peruvian fishing boats returned to shore each day heavy with thousands of anchovies. On larger boats the anchovies could be put in a hold below deck. On smaller boats, the fishermen, nets, and anchovies were on deck together and seabirds soared above, looking for a snack. Fish are very important to the coastal Peruvians because the climate is dry and it's hard to farm the land. 

But in 1972, the boats returned to shore with empty nets and disappointed fishermen. Seabirds couldn’t find food and died in large numbers.

If you want to deepen your understanding of El Nino, then click on the link to read more about the story.....

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/monster-el-nino-transforms-worlds-weather-20138

Half of the world's future population growth to occur in Africa

According to the UN population projections, Nigeria will soon overtake the USA to become the world's third largest population with 300 million people.

Read the article and think about the following questions.

1. Why are growth rates projected to be so high in Africa?

2. What are the implications for such rapid growth on this continent?

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/25/africa/africa-population-growth-un/index.html

The Tokyo skytree, vibration dampening pendulums, tsunami wave catchers, maglev technology, earthquake induced braking systems and a highly prepared population. What can we learn from Japan's advanced earthquake planning?

http://gizmodo.com/what-japan-can-teach-us-about-prepping-for-a-major-eart-1729921510

Women in the changing world

This is an outstanding UN interactive site showing any progress made to Gender equality. Grade 11 this is great for Unit 1 and 2 of the core. 

"Globalisation, digital innovation and climate change, among other factors, continue to change the world in which we live and work, posing both challenges as well as opportunities in realising women's economic potential for a better tomorrow. Explore just some facts on where women stand today in the changing world of work."

UN Women in a changing world interactive

Hydroponic farming comes to Oman

Thanks to Jack Otero for this really relevant and local example of farming innovation. This could be used as a case study to support the ideas of Boserup and could also be used for the patterns in environmental quality unit.

Mazaya Oman has brought a hydroponic farm to Barka to provide fresh vegetables all year round despite searing heat of Muscat's summer. The first crop being grown this way started harvesting in April this year. Hydroponic farming allows a shorter growing cycle and is not season dependent which would mean that local produce would be available year round. The benefits of hydroponics to the environment are significant as they would reduce imports, reduce the need for fertiliser and pesticides, reduce water stress and required land area. Well done Oman!

Almost half a million people are killed every year by Tsunami's including the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 in southeast Asia where 230,000 were killed.

Physicists and mathematicians have been working on the use of Acoustic Gravity Waves to help predict these deadly events. Acoustic gravity waves (very long sound waves) are created by trigger events such as earthquakes. Scientists believe that by using underwater hydropones we were get quite a head start to be able to predict their arrival.

“With the help of acoustic-gravity wave theory, you can now say where it started, the affected radius from the source, and the speed” 

Usama Kadri, Cardiff University Mathematics School 

 To read more go to the link below.

http://geographical.co.uk/nature/oceans/item/2164-making-waves