L, No.1, April 2013), I provided a contemporary perspective from Fiji, a small island developing State (SIDS), highlighting the environmental and climatic challenges to ensuring the sustainable management of the Ocean's resources. In a previous contribution to this magazine ( UN Chronicle Vol. Fishermen replenished the market with their catch beside fisherwomen selling coconut-leaf bags of shellfish and edible seaweed. Spawned by the Ocean, puffy cumulus clouds propelled by the trade winds brought us the fresh afternoon rain that filled our water tanks. In the Fiji of my childhood, the bounty of life-forms surrounded you every time you swam in its waters. Having been born and raised in Fiji, from my earliest childhood I observed the Ocean's status as the ultimate life-giver. If we are to ensure a bountiful planet for ourselves and for future generations, the time for action is upon us.Īn islander is defined by the Ocean. If the cycle of decline, in which it is currently caught, is allowed to continue, the deleterious impacts on the life-forms dwelling in, above and next to the Ocean may well become irreversible.Īll life on this planet ultimately depends on a healthy Ocean, thus stopping its deterioration is one of the most important challenges of our era. This information can help us better understand when and how the ocean currents are changing.The Ocean is in dire need of our help. The information they collect will help scientists find the answers to these questions-and more!įor example, the NASA mission SMAP-short for Soil Moisture Active Passive-has an instrument that measures the salinity on the surface of the sea. NASA spacecraft are collecting information about ocean temperature and salinity all the time. How are these changes in the ocean's surface temperature and saltiness-or salinity-affecting the ocean currents? How is the melting and heating affecting the average sea level? What would happen if the ocean became too warm and the ice did not form?Īs Earth gets warmer, less ice forms in the Arctic each winter and more ice melts in the summer. Without it, the equator would be way too hot and the northern and southern parts of the planet might be frozen all the time. This ocean motion is called the "great ocean conveyor belt." The movement of water on this conveyor belt makes Earth a nice place to live. Image credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio Play this video to see the major ocean currents flow around the globe. So, warm salt water might float on colder fresh water. That is why it is easier to float in the ocean than in a fresh-water swimming pool or lake.ĭoes that mean that fresh river water would float on top of salty ocean water? It all depends on the temperature. Salty water is "thicker" or denser than fresh water. If you have tasted the ocean, you know it is very salty. The rules of the game are how ocean currents work in real life, too. Keep your eye out for the key to unlock the treasure! With these tools, you can make your little submarine go anywhere to get the key to the treasure chest. Walls that you can use to block currents. In your current management toolbox, you have these tools:Ī sideways current tool that you can use to send, or bend, the current to the right or left.
Ocean of gamé full#
Where do you want to go? You want to get the key to the treasure chest full of gold! In this game, you are in a submarine and you need to fix the currents to take you where you want to go. Play Go With the Flow to learn about ocean currents-and to unlock the hidden treasure!