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Education: The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of Data!

For many scientific research projects, collecting accurate data is the main driver. Conclusions cannot be made without data and hypotheses cannot be proved or disproved without it. Data can come in many forms and can be used to answer a whole host of questions about how ocean processes work, how the ocean is changing, and what these changes mean for the future of oceanographic exploration.

NASA

Aquarius First Light Data (00:05:47)  Analyzing and Interpreting Data Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 
In this clip, Dr. Gary Lagerloef discusses how scientists were able to use Aquarius data to observe major freshwater events in the Amazon River outflow and the Bay of Bengal.
Temperature and salinity graphs from Argo Float #7572

Argo Data Visualization (00:02:33)  Asking Questions and Defining Problems Analyzing and Interpreting Data Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 
Argo floats measure salinity at pre-programmed depths on a regular schedule, sending data back to oceanographers to view. Dr. Fred Bingham walks us through what that data might look like when visualized from month to month and this gives us an idea of how salinity varies throughout the year.
Graph of brightness temperature vs. sea surface temperature

Dr. Yi Chao explains how satellite technology has evolved throughout the years to deal with the challenge of measuring ocean salinity from space.
Data swaths using the Aquarius instrument

In this clip, Dr. Gary Lagerloef discusses how scientists were able to increase the accuracy of the Aquarius satellite through adequate sampling and broader spatial coverage.
Temperature and salinity profiles in the SPURS region

Simply gathering oceanographic data is not enough: scientists must then translate that data into something they can see and interpret. Learn how by watching this video!
Prawler mooring

Dr. Fred Bingham introduces a specific type of instrument that "crawls" up and down a mooring line. The importance of this new technology, as well as what can happen if things go wrong, are discussed in this clip.
Deployment of a surface flux mooring

During SPURS, three research moorings were deployed. In combination, these three stationary platforms collected data in the SPURS region, an area in the northern mid-Atlantic, playing a key role in understanding the high salinity area.
SPURS float data

Learn how (and why) sea surface temperature and salinity might be varying at the SPURS site in the Atlantic Ocean.
Trends in global salinity

Observing changes in global ocean salinity and identifying trends involves the work of many scientists to process multiple types of data.