I think the article "Phytoplankton Population Drops 40 Percent Since 1950" by Scientific American was the most accurate and unbiased story. It supported it's facts with evidence and explained the decrease of phytoplankton in a factual way, that was successful in convincing the reader in the dangers of life without them.
The story in 2010 discusses the alarming drop in phytoplankton. Although, it was too soon for the scientists to be sure of what the after all effect of the drop will be, they tried their best to guess. Unfortunately, there was no way to prove it. The story in 2013 discussed the new invented tools used to watch the decrease in phytoplankton. They used a Secchi disk to observe the phytoplankton.""This new algorithm allows us to detect changes in plankton numbers that have previously gone unnoticed," said Johnson."""Algorithm finds missing phytoplankton in Southern Ocean." Algorithm finds missing phytoplankton in Southern Ocean. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://www.phys.org/print298715250.html> But even in 2013, the scientists were unable to predict the effect of the constant decrease in phytoplankton.
The main concern about phytoplankton continuing to decrease is the fact that they support the entire marine life ecosystem. They are at the bottom of the food chain and if they were to become extinct, the animals would all start to die off. Even for us humans, it would be horrifying. Because of the phytoplankton 50% of the worlds Co2 is kept at the bottom of the ocean because of these little sea creatures. They even produce as much oxygen as trees. Without them, our way of life would be greatly affected.
The thought of all phytoplankton becoming extinct is incredibly upsetting. They are the base of the marine food web and benefit us humans more than we realize. It's even more upsetting to think that part of the reason why they are decreasing is because of global warming, which is a biproduct of us humans killing the ozone layer.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
Relationship Among Marine Organisms
Marine Food Web:
The animal that I was in the activity was a seal. Seals usually only eat fish as their diet. As for the animals that eat seals are whales, sharks, humans, etc. The seal is a third class killer; towards the top of the marine food chain. If one species were to become endangered or extinct, the food chain would change. There could be a growth of a certain type of animal or a loss. Animals rely on each other to survive and if one were to die, it would seriously affect the whole food chain.
For the class activity we all were assigned an animal in the marine food web. We went out into the hall and connected each of the sea creatures with who ate who with a sting. We were able to see what would happen if one of the creatures were to become extinct. What I wrote for my exit ticket was: The seal is towards the top of the food web. Seals eat fish mainly. A seal is a third level carnivore. They depend on the other sea creatures to survive. If one of them is removed from the web, it would create a spiral affect.
https://www.google.com/search?q=seal&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=_63rUsL5CPCGyQHT3oCoAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=667#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=N-vQhqIBHyNbTM%253A%3B1HC8P8AJFHO9NM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.usgs.gov%252Fblogs%252Ffeatures%252Ffiles%252F2012%252F08%252FHarbor-Seal-Pup1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.usgs.gov%252Fblogs%252Ffeatures%252Fusgs_top_story%252Fmutated-flu-virus-kills-new-england-seal-pups%252F%3B627%3B417
Phytoplankton:
Phytoplankton are very important and essential to the food web. They are at the bottom of the chain, but supply a source of food for animals that then builds the chain. The neuston ecosystem covers up 71% of the Earth's surface. The organisms in the neuston ecosystem are fish, beetles, etc.
Diatoms are well adapted to living in open water, used in filters, and the glitter on them can be used as reflective paint. Diatoms use and depend on the sunlight to preform photosynthesis and nutrients. They have adapted to surviving in open water. They stay afloat to collect the sun's energy and some have spines to help keep them afloat.
Diatomaceaus earth is diatom skeletons. The reflection of light is made from the silica on them. Because of their silica they can be used for reflective paint. They are very useful and can be found in the filters of pools to clean.
From this lab, I was able to learn how tiny these particles are and with a microscope we were able to the see the beautiful designs and how they reflect. On the diatoms are circles, but if you look closer they are hexagons. It opened my eyes to realize that everything on this earth can be useful.
Energy Flow:
Energy is moved from each trophic level to the next because of the pass of nutrients and survival. Each creature relies on each other to survive which spreads energy to each trophic level.
Human Impacts:
Humans play a huge role in marine food webs because they eat and kill the creatures in the ocean. This could be very dangerous because it affects the energy between the trophic levels and could leave some of the sea creatures starving. This could upset the balance of the ocean ecosystem.
The animal that I was in the activity was a seal. Seals usually only eat fish as their diet. As for the animals that eat seals are whales, sharks, humans, etc. The seal is a third class killer; towards the top of the marine food chain. If one species were to become endangered or extinct, the food chain would change. There could be a growth of a certain type of animal or a loss. Animals rely on each other to survive and if one were to die, it would seriously affect the whole food chain.
For the class activity we all were assigned an animal in the marine food web. We went out into the hall and connected each of the sea creatures with who ate who with a sting. We were able to see what would happen if one of the creatures were to become extinct. What I wrote for my exit ticket was: The seal is towards the top of the food web. Seals eat fish mainly. A seal is a third level carnivore. They depend on the other sea creatures to survive. If one of them is removed from the web, it would create a spiral affect.
https://www.google.com/search?q=seal&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=_63rUsL5CPCGyQHT3oCoAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=667#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=N-vQhqIBHyNbTM%253A%3B1HC8P8AJFHO9NM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.usgs.gov%252Fblogs%252Ffeatures%252Ffiles%252F2012%252F08%252FHarbor-Seal-Pup1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.usgs.gov%252Fblogs%252Ffeatures%252Fusgs_top_story%252Fmutated-flu-virus-kills-new-england-seal-pups%252F%3B627%3B417
Phytoplankton:
Phytoplankton are very important and essential to the food web. They are at the bottom of the chain, but supply a source of food for animals that then builds the chain. The neuston ecosystem covers up 71% of the Earth's surface. The organisms in the neuston ecosystem are fish, beetles, etc.
Diatoms are well adapted to living in open water, used in filters, and the glitter on them can be used as reflective paint. Diatoms use and depend on the sunlight to preform photosynthesis and nutrients. They have adapted to surviving in open water. They stay afloat to collect the sun's energy and some have spines to help keep them afloat.
Diatomaceaus earth is diatom skeletons. The reflection of light is made from the silica on them. Because of their silica they can be used for reflective paint. They are very useful and can be found in the filters of pools to clean.
From this lab, I was able to learn how tiny these particles are and with a microscope we were able to the see the beautiful designs and how they reflect. On the diatoms are circles, but if you look closer they are hexagons. It opened my eyes to realize that everything on this earth can be useful.
Energy Flow:
Energy is moved from each trophic level to the next because of the pass of nutrients and survival. Each creature relies on each other to survive which spreads energy to each trophic level.
Human Impacts:
Humans play a huge role in marine food webs because they eat and kill the creatures in the ocean. This could be very dangerous because it affects the energy between the trophic levels and could leave some of the sea creatures starving. This could upset the balance of the ocean ecosystem.
Friday, December 6, 2013
The Earth's uneven heating is due to the fact that the Earth is at a tilted angle. Also, the Earth is a sphere and parts of the world can't all be heated at once. One final example is Earth's optical orbit. It spins and circle in a pattern preventing the whole Earth receiving the same about of heat. A model that help explains this is when in class we held up a globe and had a flashlight shine at the globe. It showed which areas of the earth received direct heat unlike certain parts of the globe received little to none.
The Earth's rotation affects the movement of air and water masses. The way the Earth rotates creates certain movements of air to spiral and create a constant pattern. As well as the water masses, they're affected because of the motion of the Earth. The coriolis effect is when the air spins in a perpendicular way and creates weather patterns. We examined this through cutting out a circle piece of paper and putting a pencil through the middle of the paper. We spun the paper and used a water dropper to drop tiny pieces of water showing us how the water spun around the paper in a spiral effect. Hadley cells are when air rises at the equator and then drops down. Most deserts are found at 30 degrees N or S latitude due to the fact that there is direct sun light hitting those degrees warmer the Earth to an extensive heat.
There are prevailing global wind patterns due to the fact that the Earth is tilted at an angle and certain parts of the Earth receive more sunlight/heat than other sections. Such as the equator. The equator receives the most heat and the doldrums are formed there. Global wind patterns are prevailing because of the heat the world receives. As for the westerlies, the weather patterns and airline flights are affected. They are very powerful and can give the plan extra speed due to the strength of the winds. But, once the plane needs to except the wind pattern, it is very difficult because of its strength.
http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/6000/6679/global_lightning_lrg.jpg
Wind patterns might change as a result of global warming because the wind patterns are affected by the climate of the world. Especially at the equator. This article helps support this statement. http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/climate-in-context-global-warmings-potential-impact-on-wind-energy
The Earth's rotation affects the movement of air and water masses. The way the Earth rotates creates certain movements of air to spiral and create a constant pattern. As well as the water masses, they're affected because of the motion of the Earth. The coriolis effect is when the air spins in a perpendicular way and creates weather patterns. We examined this through cutting out a circle piece of paper and putting a pencil through the middle of the paper. We spun the paper and used a water dropper to drop tiny pieces of water showing us how the water spun around the paper in a spiral effect. Hadley cells are when air rises at the equator and then drops down. Most deserts are found at 30 degrees N or S latitude due to the fact that there is direct sun light hitting those degrees warmer the Earth to an extensive heat.
There are prevailing global wind patterns due to the fact that the Earth is tilted at an angle and certain parts of the Earth receive more sunlight/heat than other sections. Such as the equator. The equator receives the most heat and the doldrums are formed there. Global wind patterns are prevailing because of the heat the world receives. As for the westerlies, the weather patterns and airline flights are affected. They are very powerful and can give the plan extra speed due to the strength of the winds. But, once the plane needs to except the wind pattern, it is very difficult because of its strength.
http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/6000/6679/global_lightning_lrg.jpg
Wind patterns might change as a result of global warming because the wind patterns are affected by the climate of the world. Especially at the equator. This article helps support this statement. http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/climate-in-context-global-warmings-potential-impact-on-wind-energy
Friday, November 22, 2013
Loggerhead Island
1. What special considerations did you have to make for the nesting sea turtle sites located on the barrier island?
We made sure that there was no resorts or a ton of human interaction with the nests of the sea turtles. Also, due to the closeness of the homes, we made a rule stating that there must be dark hours once the sun sets so the turtles aren't drawn to the light of the buildings. The people inside the homes must shut the shades if they're going to have lights on. We also built a tall wall blocking the highway so the turtles aren't drawn to the lights of the cars.
2. What special considerations had to be made when determining a good site for the proposed fishing pier?
We made sure it wasn't located near the turtles, worms, or other sea creatures that could be affected by the fishing. We also made sure that there was no boating allowed, only kayaking and canoeing.
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.
One of the concerns was the golf balls getting hit into the highway or the ocean and the sea creatures trying to eat it. To stop the golf balls from going into the highway we built another decently sized wall to prevent the balls from going into the highway. Also, we made sure that the golf course was far enough from the water so there wouldn't be a chance that it impacts the sea creatures.
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 Loggerhead County would be an ecosystem in its self. It would be very peaceful and how the world should truly be treated. The reproduction of the animals wouldn't be altered with nor would our presence create an issue to the island. The island would be a great example for the world to follow.
5. Describe three ways in which humans negatively impact coastal ecosystems such as the one you are working on with Loggerhead Barrier Island.
Humans often litter their trash outside of their windows, meaning that the animals may attempt to eat it and die. Also, it's not the cleanest way for us to live. Another negative impact is how we don't protect the animals. Such as the sea turtles, we don't make sure that they're safe from people walking over the nests and even drawing them to the cars by the lights instead of being drawn to the ocean. One final negative impact is boating. Boating can kill the sea creatures in the ocean from their propellers.
6. How can maintaining natural vegetation help us to reduce the damage caused by oceanic events such as hurricanes, tsunami and continued beach erosion?
We can keep the shoreline in place making sure we do not disrupt the oceans ways of life.
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.
I did not see any other ideas that were better unfortunately, but I was able to come up with better ideas on my own. We could create an rule of absolutely NO LITTERING on the island. We could make the fine very large and threatening. Also, we could use solar panels to be more environmentally friendly. One final idea is to use compost to help the island grow.
Friday, November 1, 2013
What can a grain of sand tell you about the Earth?
You are to describe and discuss the eight sands you examined this week. Start with the table of data you assembled on the eight 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.
Maui: The Maui sand had a mixed color of yellows to blacks. This collection of sand was indeed magnetite and it had a size of 1.5mm a grain. The texture of the sand was subrounded and was sand on the Wentworth Scale. It had well sorting of it's size and was composed entirely of rocks. I believe the environment of the rock was very calm. I think the waves were strong enough to mix around the colors of the rocks, but not that strong to make the shape of the rocks sharp and jagged.
Klamath California: This selection of sand was entirely black. It was very dark. But, when you put a magnet up to the sand, it didn't lift it up, meaning it was not magentic. The size of one grain was 1.5mm and it had an angular texture. Which, I believed was caused from the rough current of the waves crashing the grains on each other making the shape jagged and sharp. Klamath California was sand on the wenworth schale and the size was moderately sorted. The composition consisted of rocks.
Hampton NH: Hampton NH had very light colored grains. Some looked clear and some were pale. It was not magnetic and a grain had the size of 1.0mm. The shape of the grains were angular due to the strong waves lifting the sand and crashing them against one another. It was sand on the Wentworth Scale and was moderately sorted in size. But, of course the composition was made up of rocks.
Salinas: The Salinas consisted of a very light color. It was angular due to the smashing of the waves lifting up the rocks and them grinding against one another. The size of one grain was .33mm, making them very tiny grains composed of rocks. The sorting of the sizes was very well and they all seemed to be the same size. The salinas were not magentic at all.
Edgartown: The Edgartown sands were light in color and subrounded from the soft waves that lifted the rocks and smashed them together smoothly. The sand was not magnetic and was composed of rocks. On the Wentworth scale it was sand. As for the size, a grain was measured to 1.00mm! The sorting all though was okay and there were large, yet tiny pieces of sand.
Virgin: The Virgin sand has really cool colors. Some were light (pale, yellow) and some were dark (Black, brown). It was not magnetic, but it was very angular due to the strong waves making the sands crash hard against each other. It had a measurement of .1mm and it was poorly sorted because some grains were very large in size and some were quite tiny. The compostion of the grains was of rock and on the Wentworth Scale it was considered sand.
Saint Martin: Saint Martin sand was very light in color. It was not magnetic and it was indeed angular from the currents of the waves. It varied in size and the sorting was poor. It was composed of rocks and was sand on the Wentworth scale.
Pine Island: The color of the sand was very clear and beautiful. It was not magenetic and it was subrounded in shape. It was well sorted and it hade a size of .1mm. It was composed of rocks and was sand in the Wentworth Scale.
Maui: The Maui sand had a mixed color of yellows to blacks. This collection of sand was indeed magnetite and it had a size of 1.5mm a grain. The texture of the sand was subrounded and was sand on the Wentworth Scale. It had well sorting of it's size and was composed entirely of rocks. I believe the environment of the rock was very calm. I think the waves were strong enough to mix around the colors of the rocks, but not that strong to make the shape of the rocks sharp and jagged.
Klamath California: This selection of sand was entirely black. It was very dark. But, when you put a magnet up to the sand, it didn't lift it up, meaning it was not magentic. The size of one grain was 1.5mm and it had an angular texture. Which, I believed was caused from the rough current of the waves crashing the grains on each other making the shape jagged and sharp. Klamath California was sand on the wenworth schale and the size was moderately sorted. The composition consisted of rocks.
Hampton NH: Hampton NH had very light colored grains. Some looked clear and some were pale. It was not magnetic and a grain had the size of 1.0mm. The shape of the grains were angular due to the strong waves lifting the sand and crashing them against one another. It was sand on the Wentworth Scale and was moderately sorted in size. But, of course the composition was made up of rocks.
Salinas: The Salinas consisted of a very light color. It was angular due to the smashing of the waves lifting up the rocks and them grinding against one another. The size of one grain was .33mm, making them very tiny grains composed of rocks. The sorting of the sizes was very well and they all seemed to be the same size. The salinas were not magentic at all.
Edgartown: The Edgartown sands were light in color and subrounded from the soft waves that lifted the rocks and smashed them together smoothly. The sand was not magnetic and was composed of rocks. On the Wentworth scale it was sand. As for the size, a grain was measured to 1.00mm! The sorting all though was okay and there were large, yet tiny pieces of sand.
Virgin: The Virgin sand has really cool colors. Some were light (pale, yellow) and some were dark (Black, brown). It was not magnetic, but it was very angular due to the strong waves making the sands crash hard against each other. It had a measurement of .1mm and it was poorly sorted because some grains were very large in size and some were quite tiny. The compostion of the grains was of rock and on the Wentworth Scale it was considered sand.
Saint Martin: Saint Martin sand was very light in color. It was not magnetic and it was indeed angular from the currents of the waves. It varied in size and the sorting was poor. It was composed of rocks and was sand on the Wentworth scale.
Pine Island: The color of the sand was very clear and beautiful. It was not magenetic and it was subrounded in shape. It was well sorted and it hade a size of .1mm. It was composed of rocks and was sand in the Wentworth Scale.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Sounding the Sea; A Study in Bathymetric Mapping
1.) How can ocean floor features be measured and mapped using current acoustical technology? How can ocean floor maps be used in the commercial, military, and/or private sector?
To map the ocean floors you use the Bathymetric Mapping technique as well as the sonar stick. These two types of equipment help make it possible to map the floor and observe it. As for the commercial, military, and/or private sector they use a sonar stick that shoots sound vibrations down into the ocean to measure the ocean floor.
2.) A flat abyssal plain is when plate tectonics move and sediments fall to the ocean floor making it smooth and flat: ( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070213213211AAVLLJf )
.
https://ishtarc.wikispaces.com/file/view/AbyssalPlain.jpg/116248191/384x231/AbyssalPlain.jpg
An underwater seamount or guyot is a flat volcano that is isolated on the ocean floor. It has a flat top that raises from the ground. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyot)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Bear_Seamount_guyot.jpg)
A submarine canyon on the continental shelf is like a canyon under water. It goes onto the continental shelf and sometimes even leads into rivers. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_canyon)
(http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Projects/KA620/previews/20117924.JPG)
3.)
1.)Based on your seafloor model provide a description of the topography of your surveyed area.
Based on the seafloor model we made, it was often flat and consisted around the same depth throughout the box. Some spots were very low, but the majority of the box was consistent and didn't have much holes or mountains.
2.) What are the advantages of using remote sensing technology for your survey instead of direct observation?
We are able to make a more specific observation of how deep the ocean is with the sonar stick. Because with just observation from our eyes can give us the wrong impression of how deep the ocean is, therefore it is very important to use tools such as the sonar stick to give us correct measurements.
3.)What is the advantage of using vertical exaggeration in constructing your profiles of the seafloor?
It gave us more of the understanding of the sea floor. It allowed us to see how the floor blends into things such as a flat abyssal plain and other underwater floor features.
4.) Write two new research questions based on what you have learned from this activity:
1.) What is the main cause of the ocean floor features?
2.) If plate tectonics didn't exist, would continents still move?
5.) What was the value and importance of this activity to your study of science?
It was very important to learn why certain underwater features exist and how they form. It's also nice to know how scientists know the exact measurements for how deep the ocean is for certain spots. It's interesting to know that they use sound to help measure that.
To map the ocean floors you use the Bathymetric Mapping technique as well as the sonar stick. These two types of equipment help make it possible to map the floor and observe it. As for the commercial, military, and/or private sector they use a sonar stick that shoots sound vibrations down into the ocean to measure the ocean floor.
2.) A flat abyssal plain is when plate tectonics move and sediments fall to the ocean floor making it smooth and flat: ( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070213213211AAVLLJf )
.
https://ishtarc.wikispaces.com/file/view/AbyssalPlain.jpg/116248191/384x231/AbyssalPlain.jpg
An underwater seamount or guyot is a flat volcano that is isolated on the ocean floor. It has a flat top that raises from the ground. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyot)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Bear_Seamount_guyot.jpg)
A submarine canyon on the continental shelf is like a canyon under water. It goes onto the continental shelf and sometimes even leads into rivers. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_canyon)
(http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Projects/KA620/previews/20117924.JPG)
3.)
1.)Based on your seafloor model provide a description of the topography of your surveyed area.
Based on the seafloor model we made, it was often flat and consisted around the same depth throughout the box. Some spots were very low, but the majority of the box was consistent and didn't have much holes or mountains.
2.) What are the advantages of using remote sensing technology for your survey instead of direct observation?
We are able to make a more specific observation of how deep the ocean is with the sonar stick. Because with just observation from our eyes can give us the wrong impression of how deep the ocean is, therefore it is very important to use tools such as the sonar stick to give us correct measurements.
3.)What is the advantage of using vertical exaggeration in constructing your profiles of the seafloor?
It gave us more of the understanding of the sea floor. It allowed us to see how the floor blends into things such as a flat abyssal plain and other underwater floor features.
4.) Write two new research questions based on what you have learned from this activity:
1.) What is the main cause of the ocean floor features?
2.) If plate tectonics didn't exist, would continents still move?
5.) What was the value and importance of this activity to your study of science?
It was very important to learn why certain underwater features exist and how they form. It's also nice to know how scientists know the exact measurements for how deep the ocean is for certain spots. It's interesting to know that they use sound to help measure that.
Pangea: "The Dancing of the Continents"
Scientists of different disciplines come together observing their different studies to help conclude these theories. They are able to observe the way of the ocean through similar studies, working together to conclude why the continents drift. Each of them have a specific study such as Physicists and oceanographers. Together they can make conclusions with their knowledge of the certain subject which in this case happens to be why Pangea broke apart.
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