So for the science bit!!!
The reason I am taking part in this scientific exploration is because of the great Basking Shark, Cetorhinus maximus........ great latin name!!! There have been concerns over the population of this shark so it has prompted a need to understand population distribution, habitat preference and centres of abundance. Surface sightings show 'hotspots' in close inshore areas of Devon and Cornwall. So as part of Seawatch SW, which an effort based survey studying sightings of cetaceans, sharks and birds, I was sent to accompany an MSc Student and aid her in data collation. Why me? Well, where do I start......im fabulous.....multi talented :) no really as plankton analyst, I study the distribution of phyto/ zooplankton (the little microscopic beasties in the sea)..... basking sharks feed on the zooplankton, they do not eat man!!! So if we expect the coasts of the SW to be 'hotspots' for these sharks, then as they go where the food goes, and if we find high densities of zooplankton, then thats where we find the sharks............... So I am here to take charge of the plankton analysis!
The fieldtrip also includes 100 second year students bursting with enthusiasm to become great oceanographers... so it was part of my job to unleash the beasts within them!! They come here every year to obtain extensive data sets from the estuary, to inshore to the outer shore!!!
(So now a very shortened version of the oceanographic measurements we take.... this webblog is not big enough to hold all the data) We measure: dissolved oxygen, pH, and nutrients. By using a CTD instrument we collect vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, depth, we use these meaurements to give us a complete picture of the water column. We also measure the concentration of plant pigments in the water. We use of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)... this machine measures how fast water is moving in an entire water column and by measuring the backscatter from this device, we can see where the plankton are present in the entire water column!! By using the CTD to produce a thermo-salinograph and keeping in mind the results from the ADCP....... we know at what depths we need to take vertical zooplankton hauls!!!!
Ok, thats a very bitesize version of the science!!! Take a look at the photos of the boat and the plankton net.
Today at sea was again pretty rough and very wet, but we have to work in all weathers, we ventured out to approximatley 10 nautical miles offshore but a Force 8 was forcast and it was very choppy, so we came back closer to the shore..... I had a few casualties aboard, 3 students were down, well at least it was not me this time! The skipper of the boat is an amazing chap indeed, and for our pleasure as we steamed closer to the coast, with very little view outside due to the sea spray and 3 students being sick over the sides.... he switched on the ships boom box and blasted out Guns'n'Roses..... 'welcome to the jungle'...... surreal indeed but this memory will stay with me for a long time!
And so it was decided that every time we hit rough seas, this would be the anthem...... we discussed the potential of using some of his other 'softer' rock collection to entice the sharks to the boat by pumping the music underwater... yeah we are gonna work on that!
The ship The zooplankton net
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