Materials
and Procedure
Grade
levels: 4th through 8th
Guiding
question: What are the implications of rain water
entering our oceans?
Prerequisite
skills: Knowledge of the scientific processes,
awareness of watersheds and their functions, an understanding
of basic marine biology (Marine food webs & seasonal cycles),
Internet navigational skills, familiarity with excel spreadsheets
useful.
Learning
Objectives: Students will learn about the Plumes
and Blooms research project, an ongoing investigation being
conducted in the Santa Barbara Channel. After completing
this lesson students will understand the goal of the project,
what organizations support the project, and how the research
is conducted. In addition students will be exposed to the
raw data from the project. Extensions of the curriculum
allow students to explore the actual data and gain an understanding
of how it can be put to practical use by scientists.
Key
words: Glossary
(http://www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov/pcw2/pcwglossary2.html)
Background:
The UCSB Plumes and Blooms (PnB) project is an ongoing investigation
into the driving mechanisms and impacts of sediment plumes
and phytoplankton blooms in the Santa Barbara Channel. Sediment
plumes happen when winter rains wash mud, sand, and other
debris into the channel via creeks and streams. Phytoplankton
blooms occur naturally in the channel on a seasonal basis
every spring when there are increased nutrient levels in
the channel. Sediment plumes and phytoplankton blooms are
part of the physical and biological processes that have
made the channel what it is today. They can have a profound
effect on the marine life of the Santa Barbara Channel.
By understanding the dynamics of these processes we can
better understand the channels environment and the role
we play in it as a community.
The
alternating pattern of spring blooms and winter plumes produces
a "tree ring" like structure in the channel's geologic record.
This gives scientists the rare opportunity to examine the
channel's historical records and review important climatic
changes and processes. The data can provide information
on annual rainfall patterns and forest fire occurrences
that have happened over hundreds and thousands of years.
The Plumes and Blooms project also matches the physical
data collected in the channel to satellite images called
seaWifs (satelite images of ocean color). This gives scientists
an opportunity to use satellite images of ocean color as
an indicator of the physical conditions of water masses.
Plumes
and blooms research cruises are conducted twice monthly
and involve collecting data at 7 different locations known
as stations. The 7 plumes and blooms stations create a linear
transect of the Santa Barbara Channel. Many scientific instruments
are deployed at each station and a variety of seawater properties
are measured. These properties include temperature, depth,
salinity, silicate levels, chlorophyll levels, and turbidity.
The data is then published via the Internet on the Plumes
and Blooms website.
(http:www.icess.ucsb.edu/PnB/PnB.html)
Focus:
Plumes and Blooms research is conducted in an orderly manner
using specific methods to answer specific questions and
it's purpose is to compile a large data base of the physical
and biological properties of the Santa Barbara Channel.
Plumes and Blooms is a collaborative effort and are conducted
by many agencies.
Materials
Necessary
Internet access
Printed worksheets for each student
Found in the resource section of the website
Optional
Local maps of creeks, streams, rivers, and streets
Optional
of classroom demonstration:
Materials
This
demonstrates how a sediment plume forms, where it goes,
and how it is deposited on the sea floor
Preparation
time: 10 - 60 minutes
Lesson
time: Two or more class periods depending on
the level of development
Management
and Safety Considerations: Have students work
in small groups at the computers.
Procedure:
Project
discussion & activities
A)
Introduce the PnB research project to the students For
additional information on the project go
to this page (http://www.icess.ucsb.edu.PnB/PnB.html).
B) Make sure the students understand the goals of
the Plumes and Blooms project and the importance of the
data being collected.
Plumes
and Blooms Goal: "To understand the potential impacts
of current storm runoff in the ocean, such as possible changes
in light conditions for subsurface plants and animals [plankton],
the spread of terrestrial sediments and possibly human related
pollution." - Leal Mertes, UCSB scientist.
Importance:
For UCSB ocean color scientists, the alternating patterns
of brown sediment plumes and green algae blooms provide
an excellent field laboratory for understanding and modeling
the color of the sea. The data can also give Insight into
local weather patterns and forest fire occurrences over
hundreds of thousands of years and increase our understanding
of how coastal communities like Santa Barbara impact marine
environments.
C) Internet
activity ‚ Website address: www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov/pcw2/index.html
Give
the students the provided website worksheet handouts.
Have
students find more in depth information about the PnB project
and the links that will get them started on the activity
sheet.
Have
student examine the discreet data sets from the PnB cruises
that are posted on the site and use these to complete their
worksheets
Have
students explore the Plumes
and Blooms project website
(http:www.icess.ucsb.edu/PnB/PnB.html)
Closure:
Lower grades
