Data Visualization on the OceanMotion Surface Currents Website

The NASA-sponsored OceanMotion web site (http://www.oceanmotion.org) highlights the science and significance of ocean surface currents. This paper focuses on educational and technical issues related to the lessons/investigations that are posted at the web site and that are intended for use in high school classrooms. These lessons blend the use of data and computer models into student investigations. The data products are colored images, time series graphs and data tables for use in a data calculator. Skills developed using data to discover patterns and relationships for model-building will serve students in other courses as well as areas of later life