Rain At Sea Has Consequences for Global Salinity

Stephen Riser
Stephen Riser
Professor
University of Washington

Dr. Riser's primary interests include the ocean's role in climate; circulation of the ocean and ocean/atmosphere/ice interactions through direct observations; and the interactions between physical aspects of circulation and the biogeochemical properties of the ocean.

Webinar Clip
Technological advancements in oceanographic data collection, both from autonomous floats and gliders to satellites have allowed scientists to gain a better understanding of how key ocean processes work and impact things like ocean circulation, the water cycle, and global climate. Dr. Riser explains to viewers the importance of this technology and why a rain event over the ocean can tell us a lot about how the ocean works to move water from place to place.

Full webinar: From Skin to Deep

Click here for a transcript of this clip (PDF, 56.0 KB).

Resources
Applicable Science Standards
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data Analyzing and Interpreting Data. Scientific investigations produce data that must be analyzed in order to derive meaning. Because data patterns and trends are not always obvious, scientists use a range of tools - including tabulation, graphical interpretation, visualization, and statistical analysis - to identify the significant features and patterns in the data. Scientists identify sources of error in the investigations and calculate the degree of certainty in the results. Modern technology makes the collection of large data sets much easier, providing secondary sources for analysis.
  • Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions. The goal of science is the construction of theories that provide explanatory accounts of the world. A theory becomes accepted when it has multiple lines of empirical evidence and greater explanatory power of phenomena than previous theories.