Data Explorations
Interactive activities to connect undergraduates with data from the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI)
Activity Collections
Exploring Primary Production with OOI Data
Through these activities, we will explore primary production in greater detail. Primary production is the rate at which organisms store energy through the formation of organic matter (carbon-based compounds), using energy derived from solar radiation during photosynthesis or from chemical reactions during chemosynthesis.
Activities Instructor's Guide
Exploring Properties of Seawater with OOI Data
These activities explore properties of seawater in greater detail, to be used as Exploration or Application activities. The properties of seawater explored include: salinity variations over time and space, processes that affect surface seawater salinity, changes in pH with depth, relationship between pH and oceanic pCO2 for the carbonate buffering system, variations in salinity with depth over time and space, and the depth of the halocline over time and space.
Activities Instructor's Guide
Exploring Tectonics & Seamounts with OOI Data
These activities explore characteristics of seamounts and tectonics in greater detail, to be used as Exploration or Application activities. The properties of seamounts and tectonics explored include: tectonic features and patterns found at divergent and transform boundaries, growth and decay of hydrothermal vents, and tectonic features and patterns of change at seamounts over time.
Activities Instructor's Guide
2019 Data Explorations Collection
These activities in this collection were developed by participants to the 2019 OOI Data Labs Development Workshops.
ActivitiesInstructors' Guides are available for each theme
What are Data Explorations?
Data Explorations are quick (15-20 minute) explorations that are designed to be easily integrated into your current classroom teaching. This site provides a range of interactive activities that incorporate raw data from the OOI that is relevant to concepts you are already teaching in your undergraduate courses. These explorations were developed and reviewed by faculty to help deepen students' understanding of key oceanographic concepts with real data.
Faculty Workshops
Faculty interested in using these activities or getting involved in future pilot projects should check out our upcoming and past workshops and webinars.