Figure 1 shows how sea surface height varies from its annual average from season to season. In this activity you will analyze four satellite data maps and match them to the season they represent. A clue for interpreting the images is that water has a very high heat capacity, meaning that it takes a lot of energy transfer to change its temperature, i.e., heat it up or cool it down. Thus, the ocean heats and cools more slowly than land. You will use this concept and your knowledge of the amount of solar heating that occurs in each season, to determine which map is from fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Activity Observe all four images together.
First, locate the land masses on each image. You will need a map with latitude markings for reference. Use this map to roughly sketch the equator and relevant lines of latitude on each of the four images in Fig. 1 . You will need a map with latitude markings for reference. Make sure that you are familiar with the color-coded sea surface height scale for the images.