global wind patterns

The Earth is unevenly heated because it spins on an axis, it rotates in an elliptical pattern around the sun, and it is a sphere. This means that when the sun's light hits the earth, more direct light is concentrated  toward the equator and less concentrated at the poles. Also, since  the earth is spinning, it generates wind movement and this movement draws cold air from the north and warm air from the equator which create cold and warm fronts that contribute to the uneven  heating of the earth. Finally the elliptical movement of the earth around the sun creates seasons which  tend to drastically change weather patterns and result in uneven heating around the Earth. I learned some if this information by doing a global wind pattern activity, this activity accurately shows that because of the Earth's rotation the winds move in a spherical pattern.

The Earths rotation affect the movement of air and water masses. Since the Earth moves from west to east, this in fact makes the wind and ocean currents do the same. In class we did an activity that describes this example well. We took a ball and spun it in the same direction as the earth, then we lightly used a dry erase marker to draw a straight line from the top to the bottom. When the ball stopped spinning we took not of the pattern. In class we also learned of the Coriolis effect, which is a natural phenomenon in which it deflects the wind movements. We also learned of Hadley cells which were defined to us as tropic atmospheric circulations. The final thing we learned that day was that most deserts are found 30 degrees north or south of the equator because this is where the doldrums are. 

Prevailing global wind patterns are global winds that blow in a particular direction on the earths surface that cause weather patterns. In the past these winds have been used for trading along with doldrums, the horse latitudes, and the westerlies. In our class we studied this topic and learned about how these wind patterns and their direction help planes fly faster to different locations and save more fuel. 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Earth_Global_Circulation_-_en.svg

Global warming might change wind/weather patterns because because of the rising temperature storms of all kinds might become more intense with stronger forces. The National Wildlife Federation has an article that explains this idea further providing more details.

 http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Global-Warming-is-Causing-Extreme-Weather.aspx

Loggerhead Island Report

Report on your Loggerhead Island development proposal by answering the below questions. Include a photo of your plan in your report.

1. What special considerations did you have to make for the nesting sea turtle sites located on the barrier island?

Our plan to create a safe environment for the sea turtle nesting sight was to keep the hustle and bustle of the populated areas away from the sight. To do this we put the golf coarse semi near the sight and we put a barrier of indigenous trees blocking the coarse from the habitat.  

2. What special considerations had to be made when determining a good site for the proposed fishing pier?

A special consideration that was made when determining the site for the fishing pier was to put it near the mangrove and sea grass areas to ensure the best fishing, but also the protection of these fragile habitats.

3. What could be some of the potential problems that might arise from the proposed golf course? Propose some of the ways in which the impacts can be reduced.

A problem might be the chemicals used to maintain the coarse, but in this case, the golf coarse is maintained using environmentally friendly substances, and the coarse was constructed with indigenous grass.

4. What are the economic benefits to the community of Loggerhead County if the development was done with the least amount of environmental impact?

The economic benefit to the community would be the appeal of a wealthy selective community with the natural beauty of the island that was ensured by the least amount of development. 

5. Describe three ways in which humans negatively impact coastal ecosystems such as the one you are working on with Loggerhead Barrier Island.

Humans negatively impact coastal ecosystems by polluting, developing, and over fishing/hunting in these fragile environments. These ecosystems include plant and animal habitats.

6. How can maintaining natural vegetation help us to reduce the damage caused by oceanic events such as hurricanes, tsunami and continued beach erosion?

Natural vegetation like mangroves can help  reduce the impact of natural disasters because they keep the soil intact by their spiderweb-like root system, and help buffer the impact of the waves slamming against the shore. 

7. After listening to the other groups make their presentations, were there any ideas they had you would have used if you had though about it before-hand? You should list at least three different ideas and indicate why their idea is actually better for the environment than yours. 

Other ideas that i would have thought of before hand would be remembering to use light restrictions on the houses, making some of the facilities closer to the road, and nature trails. these ideas help the residents of the island observe nature at a better vantage point by use of the trails, makes it safer by making the buildings closer to the road, and light restrictions ensure the animals won't be drawn to human activity. 

A beach by any other name

Analysis of Results: Interpret and analyze your results for each station by answering the following questions in your science journal.

 Activity 1: A Beach by Any Other Name 
1. Contrast the differences between a primary and a secondary coastline.
A primary coast line is a coast line created by erosion and other geological processes where as a secondary coastline is formed by organic means.

2. Provide three examples of the processes involved in both primary and secondary coastline classifications.
Erosion, volcanic activity, and glaciers form primary coasts. Secondary coasts are formed by waves, marine life, and the lowering of the sea level.

3. Contrast the east and west coasts of the United States based on the primary forces that are responsible for shaping their coastlines.
The west coast's coasts are mostly glacial and volcanic. The east coast's coasts are erosion based with some secondary coasts to the south. There is also glacial coasts up towards the north.

 Activity 2: It's All in the Mix, A Study of Estuary Classification Based on Water Circulation. 
1. Based on your data, the profiles you graphed, and the information provided in your text, provide an explanation for the three distinct estuary circulations.
The first distinct estuary circulation is a salt wedge and this occurs when high-salinity seawater slips into the estuary under the less dense fresh water from a river.  The second distinct estuary circulation is a vertically mixed estuary where there is no distinct water layer. The third distinct estuary circulation are the between ones where the water partly mixes but there are still layers.

2. What are factors that could influence the circulation of water within an estuary?
Factors like temperature and pressure can influence water circulation in an estuary.

3. If you are fishing in an estuary that is well stratified is it possible to catch both freshwater and marine fish in the same general spot? Explain.
Yes, depending on the depth on which you are fishing.

4. Provide two examples of adaptations that estuary life had to make during their evolution that are different from open water marine species adaptations.
And adaptation made is that estuary's are where marine life go to be nursed and grow up until the organisms grow up and move out. Estuary's are like nurseries in the sense that they also provide protection from the elements, which is something open ocean marine organisms don't have.

 Activity 3: Judging a Book by its Cover 
1. Describe the economic services that are provided by estuaries.
Estuary's are like nurseries.

2. Describe the ecological services that are provided by estuaries.
Estuary's are nurseries that provide protection from the elements and other organisms.

3. No matter which estuaries are being discussed, they seem to be plagued by variations of the same
three different categories of human impacts. What are these impacts?
Pollution, development, and hunting/ fishing out the population.

4. Provide two examples of pollution problems that seem to be common in estuaries.
Trash and sewage are two examples of pollution problems that seem to be common in estuaries.

5. Provide two examples of development problems that seem to be common in estuaries.
Destruction of the fragile environment, and the development of structures on the habitats.

 

 

A grain of history

"You are to describe and discuss the eight sands you examined this week. Start with the table of data you assembled on the eight (8) sands you looked at, and continue by making an interpretation of the environment of two of the sands, how far each traveled, and their ultimate source areas. Use the below clues to help you." The Plum Island sand I observed was orange, had magnetite, was not fine in size, was moderately sorted, angular, and contained a variety of minerals such as quartz and garnet. The Key West sand sample I observed was white/ transparent in color, did not have magnetite, was not fine in size, angular, was well sorted and contained a variety of minerals and shells from ocean organisms. The Hampton Beach sand I observed was orange, black and white in color, did not have magnetite, was not fine in size, was roughly sorted, angular, and contained a variety of minerals including quartz and rocks such as granite. The St Martin's sand I observed was black and white, did not have magnetite, was not fine in size, angular, was poorly sorted and contained minerals and shells from organisms. The Praiade sand I observed was orange and transparent in color, had no magnetite, was fairly large in size, was well sorted, sub-angular, and contained a crystal minerals. The Maui sand I observed was orange, transparent, and black, had magnetite, was not fine in size, was poorly sorted, round-angular, and contained a variety of minerals and organic sediment as well. Desert Island sand I observed was orange/white, had magnetite, was big in size, angular,was well sorted and contained a variety of minerals and organic sediment. The Bonaire sand I observed was white, had no magnetite, was big in size, sub-angular, was well sorted and contained crystals.

Sounding the Sea

Research question 1. Ocean floor features can be measured and mapped by using current acoustical technology that emits sound that bounces back to the instrument and gives scientists an idea of what the ocean floor’s geography looks like. Ocean floor maps can be used commercially for fishermen looking for the best spots to fish. These maps can also be used in the military by providing a detailed map of underwater features that might pose a hazard to submarines or other underwater military activity. 2. An Abyssal plain is an underwater plain on the deep ocean floor. An underwater Guyot is an isolated underwater volcanic mountain. A continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. A continental slope is the sloping region between a continental shelf and rise. A continental rise is an underwater feature that is found between a continental slope and the abyssal plain. A submarine canyon or ridge is a steep sided valley cut into the sea floor of a continental slope. A mid ocean ridge is a general term for an underwater mountain system that consists of many ranges. An oceanic trench is a deep narrow depression in the ocean floor. An island arc system is an archipelago of volcanic islands. 3. 1) Based on our seafloor model our project had a large zigzag oceanic trench that resembled a lightning bolt. Besides that, there were many underwater mountains. 2) The advantages of using remote sensing technology instead of direct observation is that it is more accurate. 3) The advantage of using a vertical exaggeration in constructing the profile of the sea floor is that the features are more prominent. 4. 1) Which feature is the easiest to identify? 2) Can using a seafloor map be useful in navigation? 5. The value and importance of this activity is learning the different features of the oceans geography

Experimental Design

While my Oceanography class was on a field trip, I stayed in school and completed my experimental design. I would conduct my experimental design assignment by setting up an underwater research station to observe the breeding habits of clams. I would need under water cameras to document them. These cameras would need fast and slow motion and night vision. I would also need a boat to get to this station. The research station would be equipped to last 3 days under water and be pressurized to withstand the depths and ensure sustainable living. I would only need a team of 3 specially trained scientists who I would be diving with. Other than that, the only other thing I would need would be the necessary survival gear to last the team for a 7 day voyage to and from the base.

Molasses spill

After reading the article on the Honolulu harbor Molasses spill I was interested on how something like this could have happened. It said in the article that the molasses is soluble in the water so the tide will wash it away eventually. In the video posted to the article, there were a lot of dead fish and other organisms as well as a damaged coral reef system.
 People should respond to this problem by volunteering to clean up the beaches when ever possible and help support environmental teams that are working hard to clean up the molasses. In a situation like this I do not believe that anything could have been done to prevent this other than more secure shipping, because this incident was a freak accident. The only thing left to do is to continue cleaning up dead organisms and make the harbor safe for its organisms and people that rely on its water.

Photograph by Hugh Gentry, Reuters

why explore the ocean?

My ocean literacy has changed because over the last week I had done research on Ferdinand Magellan and had to give a presentation on his exploration and story. I also had the opportunity to watch my other classmate’s presentations and learn about their topics. Through this experience I learned that the earth’s ocean is largely unexplored and that the ocean is the major influence on weather and climate.

I realized this when I saw the presentations on Vespucci and other early century explorers. I also learned that the ocean makes the earth habitable and how the discoveries made by oceanographers helped improve the worlds knowledge of the ocean. During the reading that was assigned, I learned about how ancient civilizations around the world used the ocean for food, trade and to explore new lands. I also got a refresher of Darwin’s studies and was reminded that the earth’s oceans support a great diversity of life and many ecosystems. By studying how our ancestors used and explored the ocean it was evident that the ocean has been and still is inextricably bound with life on this planet.

Oceans

What do I hope to get from this course.....

 I chose this course because it seemed like the more interesting science course that I needed to complete my schedule. I hope to learn the properties of the ocean as well as get a basic understanding of how these things work. I also hope to learn a new field of science that I can apply to my life.