Live from Antarctica 2: Mixing up the Water Column

In this activity students are asked for their predictions about how different water temperatures will affect movement in the ocean water column. Students will investigate the effect of water temperature on mixing in the water column. They will half fill one jar with the hottest water the faucet will provide and half fill the other jar with chilled water. After allowing the water in both jars to settle completely for a minute or so they will take one of each of the food-coloring squeeze bottles in each hand and carefully, at the same time, squeeze one drop of color into each jar. They will then observe and record what happens. Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school