Sam Northern is a 2004 graduate of Russellville High School and a 2008 graduate of WKU. He taught language arts at Lewisburg Elementary School for six years and is now librarian at Simpson Elementary in Franklin. He is the son of Keith and Dr. Karen Northern of Russellville. He has been chosen for a number of educational adventures. He is blogging about his current one, which he is allowing The LoJo to carry his comments. This is the second installment. See the first at http://theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=guests467
Becoming a Scientist (Wednesday, May 31)
I am not yet used to working until midnight. After all, the school where I teach dismisses students by 3:30 p.m. when the sun is still shining. Not to worry, I will adjust. It is actually exciting having a new schedule. I get to experience deploying the CTD and bongo nets during day light hours and at night time. The ocean is as mysterious as it is wide, no matter the time of day.
You never quite know what the weather is going to be from one day to the next out at sea. Since my arrival at the ship in Newport, Rhode Island I have experienced overcast skies, sunshine, rain, and now dense fog. But that’s not all! The forecast expects a cold front will approach from the northwest Friday. Today’s fog made it difficult for the animal observers to spot many birds of whales in the area. Despite low visibility, there is still a lot to do on the ship. After our first bongo station in the early afternoon, we had a fire and abandon ship drills. Carrying out of these drills make all passengers acquainted with various procedures to be followed during emergency situations.
I thoroughly enjoy doing the work at each station. Our sampling is interesting, meaningful, and keeps my mind off being sea sick. So far, I am doing much better than expected. The excitement generated by the science team is contagious. I now long for the ship to reach each oceanography station so I can help with the research.
Animals Seen
So far the animals seen have been mostly birds. I am grateful to the mammal and seabird observers, Glen Davis and Nicholas Metheny. These two are experts in their field and can ID a bird from a kilometer away with long distance viewing binoculars.
Among those seen have been Wilson-Storm-Petrel, Sooty Shearwater, Northern Gannett, Marix Shearwater, Red-throated Loon, Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Roseate Tern, Common Loon, Common Tern, Humpback Whale and Sand Lance.
New Terms/Phrases
[Source — Merriam-Webster Dictionary]
· Barometer: an instrument for determining the pressure of the atmosphere and hence for assisting in forecasting weather and for determining altitude.
· Altimeter: an instrument for measuring altitude; especially an aneroid barometer designed to register changes in atmospheric pressure accompanying changes in altitude.
· Flowmeter: an instrument for measuring one or more properties (such as velocity or pressure) of a flow (as of a liquid in a pipe).
· Salinity: consisting of or containing salt.
· Conductivity: the quality or power of conducting or transmitting.
· Chlorophyll Maximum: a subsurface maximum in the concentration of chlorophyll in the ocean or a lake which is where you usually find an abundance of phytoplankton.
· Ethanol: a colorless flammable easily evaporated liquid that is used to dissolve things
· Formalin: a clear, water like solution of formaldehyde and methanol used especially as a preservative.
Did You Know?
The average depth of the ocean is about 12,100 feet. The deepest part of the ocean is called the Challenger Deep and is located beneath the western Pacific Ocean in the southern end of the Mariana Trench. Challenger Deep is approximately 36,200 feet deep. It is named after the HMS Challenger, whose crew first sounded the depths of the trench in 1875. [Source — NOAA Official Website].