What is Ocean Stratification?
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: April 25, 2025|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Physics, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: The Kid Should See This
Location: Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This brief article from The Kid Should See This explains what ocean stratification is, how climate change contributes to it, and why the mixing of the ocean layers is important, using a short video (2 min) from Hakai Institute to further explain.
- The solutions mentioned in the written portion are important to review with students.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video clearly connects changes to the ocean to climate change.
- The video includes visuals that help students understand the topic.
Prerequisites
- Students should have some background knowledge about climate change and its causes. This resource can be used as needed.
- Terms like "density" and "salinity" may need to be reviewed with younger students beforehand.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This video can be used to extend the conversation about the impacts of low oxygen levels in the oceans.
- Students can extend their understanding of this phenomenon by looking at stratification in the Great Lakes.
- The article mentions traditional ecological knowledge as important in climate response efforts. This resource can be used to explore this concept in more depth with students.
- Expanding on solutions to climate change is important. Students can use this table to investigate blue solutions to climate change.
Students can use this resource to learn about the ocean's layers and compositions and how they help living things survive and function. Ocean layers must interact with one another in order to sustain the food chain and lessen extreme weather events, storm surges, and sea level rise in coastal areas. The use of this resource in the classroom is advised.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
