You have learned that maps can be unbelievably useful in
determining what kinds of crops an area might provide, what kind of
climate an area might typically experience and a map can even tell you
how steep the hill is behind your house. We have been working with a
specific types of maps called
Topographic Maps. These maps are able to show you elevation differences by simply using lines called
contour lines and differences in color called
relief.
So... you can see mountains rising, plateaus flattening off into
enormous expanses and undulating hills rolling off into the country
side... but what about the water?
Are our oceans a big, boring flat expanse of nothingness? Or is there some topography to be had down yonder?
Check out this amazing website on the topography of the ocean floor: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/gallery/maps/maps.html
After you have taken some time to explore the website
and discover what our ocean floor looks like around the world, answer
the following questions.
1) Pick one specific location (each of the
pretty color images of are of a specific location) and describe what
the ocean floor looks like at that location.
2) What information or images surprised you? Why did the images or information surprise you?
3) Why do you think that most of the images use different colors? What do you think the colors mean?
4) How do you think scientists are able to acquire these images?
Good luck and make sure that you come up for air!