How Do Latitude and Longitude Coordinates Help Us See Patterns on Earth?
ES0303  Sea Surface Temperatures

The temperature of the surface of the sea varies from place to place across Earth. The data table below shows sea surface temperatures (SST) for various locations around the world on March 2, 2001.

  !   Scan the data table. Look for any obvious relationships you can find between sea surface temperature and location. You will return to these data later, so spend only a little time looking for patterns.

Latitude Longitude SST (°C)
-30 S 0 21
75 N 0 4
15 N -120 W 25
-15 S -135 W 30
-60 S -135 W 6
-60 S -15 W 2
45 N -150 W 6
15 N -150 W 25
-30 S -165 W 30
30 N -30 W 20
-45 S -30 W 15
15 N -30 W 25
45 N -45 W 6
15 N -45 W 26
0 -105 W 32
-30 S -90 W 22
-45 S 135 E 14
30 N 150 E 22
0 165 E 34
15 N 60 E 28
-45 S 60 E 10
-15 S 75 E 32
-30 S 90 E 21
NOAA

1. How does sea surface temperature appear to change with latitude?

2. How does sea surface temperature appear to change with longitude? 



	

 	

		
			
	

	
	

		 
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