Curated OER
Composition of Ocean Water
Students experiment to determine the composition of ocean water. In this ocean water composition lesson plan, students color in a grid that shows the percentage of each of the components of ocean water which include chloride, sodium,...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Chemical Oceanography
Students study the chemical characteristics of the World Ocean, water chemistry, element cycles, and chemical resources in this multi-media learning module.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Swimming in Acid: Understanding Ocean Acidification
The oceans are a precious natural resource, part of Earth's carbon cycle. But what happens if the oceans absorb too much carbon dioxide? Many scientists are concerned that the increased absorption of carbon dioxide is causing them to...
US Navy
Office of Naval Research: Ocean Water
This highly informative site delves into salinity, pressure, density, temperature acoustics, and optics associated with ocean water. A quick quiz follows the information presented.
eSchool Today
E School Today: Your Cool Basics on Ocean Acidification
Looks at ocean acidification, what causes it, the impact of it, and possible ways to reduce it.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley Lab: Did You Ever Wonder? About the Mysteries of Ocean Chemistry?
Students investigate ocean chemistry. The article discusses Jim Bishop, ocean cycle, the biology of the sea, and carbon in the sea. The resource consists of pictures, quotes, and links to additional resources.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Making Waves: The Power of Concentration Gradients
The constant motion of our oceans represents a vast and complicated system involving many different drivers. Sasha Wright explains the physics behind one of those drivers- the concentration gradient- and illustrates how our oceans are...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Ocean Acidification in a Cup
In this activity, you can observe how ocean acidification can have big consequences. This activity has students creating a cup that has a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere that allows them to watch how the water changes beneath the atmosphere.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Shell Shifts
Investigate the damage that ocean acidification does to the shells of sea creatures.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Sea and Ice Salinity
Students investigate the effects of salinity on the formation of sea ice, and whether salt water freezes more quickly or more slowly than fresh water.
PBS
Quest: How Ocean Acidification Affects Shelled Organisms
This step-by-step tutorial walks students through the effects of ocean acidification on some shelled marine organisms.
NOAA
Noaa: Ocean Explorer: Off Base Acidity of Oceans
A student inquiry into properties of the ocean's carbonate buffer system, and how changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels may affect ocean pH and biological organisms that depend on calcification.
eSchool Today
E School Today: Solutions to the Ocean Acidification Problem
Understand the ocean acidification problem, and find out what you can do about it.
NASA
Nasa: What Is Ocean Color?
This site from NASA explains the meaning behind the different colors of the oceans. Gives information as to the role of phytoplankton in the color of the oceans and affects of the carbon cycle on the oceans.
NASA
Nasa: Space Place: Go With the Flow: An Ocean Currents Game
You are in a submarine and need to fix the currents to take you where you want to go. You want to get the key to the treasure chest full of gold!
University of Southern California
Usc: The Composition of Ocean Water
This site gives background information to ocean water and its contents. It has a link to an detailed chart showing the minerals and their content amount in ocean water. It also has links to activities.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Seawater Chemistry Study Guide
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This study guide summarizes key points about the composition of ocean water. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.