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The Water Cycle

Ray Schmitt
Ray Schmitt
Senior Scientist
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Dr. Schmitt earned his Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. His research interests include oceanic mixing processes such as "salt fingers" and the oceanic freshwater cycle. Read more about Dr. Schmitt here.

Webinar Clip
In this clip, Dr. Schmitt talks about how varying ocean temperatures play a role in the global water cycle.

Full webinar: Salinity's Connection to Climate Change and an Accelerated Water Cycle

Click here for a transcript of this clip (PDF, 36.3 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.