Real-World Temperature Data From the Gulf of Mexico: Seasonality and Effect of the Loop Current With an Accessible Hands-On Activity

North Atlantic Ocean currents transport warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes, where its warmth impacts weather and climate in North America and Europe. Some of this warm water passes through the Gulf of Mexico via the circuitous Loop Current before joining the Gulf Stream near Florida. Because ocean temperature influences both the frequency and intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes over the ocean in general, and in the Gulf of Mexico specifically, tracking the position of the meandering Loop Current and its deep-reaching cargo of warm water improves weather prediction, and thus preparation for these extreme storms. In this classroom activity geared for the middle school grade level, students will examine vertical temperature profiles from the Loop Current and surrounding Gulf water collected with autonomous drifting floats to learn about spatial (vertical and horizontal) and seasonal temperature differences in the Gulf. To quantify the differences, students will construct a table of ocean temperature data by depth, location, and season and will interpret the results to learn about the factors that determine the distribution of ocean temperature in the Gulf of Mexico. This activity has modifications for blind and low vision students.