Resources for the 2026 Science Olympiad challenge in Dynamic Planet - Oceanography
Science Olympiad is a national STEM competition dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science education, increasing interest and engagement in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by students and teachers. Science Olympiad tournaments emphasize teamwork, problem solving, and hands-on learning practices. For more information about Science Olympiad, visit www.soinc.org offsite link. Here, we share resources from NOAA and our federal partners.
Background information
Coastal erosion
Coastal erosion is the process by which local sea level rise, strong wave action, and coastal flooding wear down or carry away rocks, soils, or sands along the coast.
Coastal Zone Management
The Coastal Zone Management Act provides each state and territory the opportunity to identify their unique management priorities and develop programs to support and advance them.
High tide flooding
High tide flooding is the overflow or excess accumulation of water that covers typically dry coastal land and occurs during high tides.
How does the ocean affect climate and weather on land?
The ocean influences weather and climate by storing solar radiation, distributing heat and moisture around the globe, and driving weather systems.
JetStream - Introduction to global weather
The Sun transfers heat energy to the Earth, however, this heat energy is received unequally, resulting in global circulations of air and heat. These circulations drive our weather and produce the range of climates we see.
JetStream - Introduction to the ocean
We cannot learn about the weather we experience without considering the ocean and its effect on our weather — and the weather's effect on it.
Large-scale ocean dynamics
Changes in the large-scale ocean circulation, such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, have a profound impact on global and regional climate systems.
Ocean and coastal processes research
Elements captured in this theme include an understanding of ocean physics and interactions between the ocean and both the seafloor and atmosphere.
Restoration and nature-based solutions
Coastal storms, flooding, and rising seas combined with loss of habitat and biodiversity threaten coastal communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Nature-based solutions involve the intentional use of natural features to reduce risks to coastal hazards and deliver multiple environmental and socio-economic benefits.
NOAA Education resource collections
El Niño and La Niña
By influencing global temperatures and precipitation, El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) significantly impacts Earth’s ecosystems and human societies.
Ocean currents
Ocean currents, abiotic features of the environment, are continuous and directed movements of ocean water.
Ocean floor features
This theme includes information on underwater landforms, plate tectonics and the ocean floor, hydrography, hydrothermal vents, and more.
Tides
The word "tides" is used to define the rise and fall in sea level resulting from the gravitational attraction of the moon and the sun.
What is...
What are El Niño and La Nina?
El Niño and La Niña are climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide.
What are the different types of plate tectonic boundaries?
There are three kinds of plate tectonic boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries.
What are the three main types of coral reefs?
The three main types of coral reefs are fringing, barrier, and atoll.
What is a rip current?
A rip current is a powerful, channeled current that can be a beach safety hazard.
What is the Coriolis Effect?
Put simply, the Coriolis Effect makes things (like planes or currents of air) traveling long distances around Earth appear to move at a curve as opposed to a straight line.
What is upwelling?
Upwelling is a process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface.