Teaching Oceanography at a Liberal Arts College Ed Laine Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME Citizens Science Guide to Earth Observations August 12, 2008

Main Topics Service Learning Friends of Casco Bay Oceanographic Buoy Use of GIOVANNI

Underlying Themes Problem based learning Process of science Engaging students Real, not cookbook

Marine Environmental Geology Service Learning Course Environmental Studies Introductory science requirement Inquiry in the Natural Sciences Bowdoin distribution Geo major Must have 101 (Physical)

Numbers 36 students Mainly non-science 60-75% women 2 lab sections of 18 Mainly non-science 60-75% women

Fall semester Fall diatom bloom Fading hypoxia Episodes of reverse estuarine circulation Breakdown of stratification of water column

Community partners Friends of Casco Bay Town of Harpswell Bowdoin Buoy Facility Harpswell Heritage Land Trust

Projects Documenting dissolved oxygen changes Studying estuarine circulation patterns Studying the evolution of plankton blooms Groundtruthing backscatter texture maps Groundtruthing instrumental chlorophyll

Why as an educator might you choose SL? Process of science Engagement Problem solving Quantitative Writing Learning community

Friends of Casco Bay (FOCB) Non-profit 1989 Data driven Pro-active

http://friendsofcascobay.org/default.aspx

http://friendsofcascobay.org/default.aspx

FOCB Volunteer Program 450 trained 5 hour training(DeMotte kits) Temperature, Dissolved oxygen pH Salinity Water clarity

Sampling Spring Through Fall Monthly April through October 7AM and 3PM

An Oceanographic Buoy NSF Funding December 14, 2006 RT/24/7 Harmful Algal Blooms Harpswell Sound Coastal Studies Center Bowdoin, Bigelow(Roesler), Saint Joseph’s College of Maine (Teagarden)

Meteorology Suite

Meteorology Suite Current Meters, Temp, Salinity DO

Meteorology Suite Current Meters, Temp, Salinity DO Optical Oceanography Chlorophyll Transmission CDOM Nutrients Sunlight Backscatter

Hourly Data Available RT University of Maine GoMOOS Bowdoin College

Student Research Reverse estuarine circulation Succession of phytoplankton species Evolution of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

Using Giovanni Exploring early paper on Gulf of Maine Productivity 1998-2002 Used Giovanni 2003 to present Also examined temperature and salinity variations at GoMOOS buoys

First 4 years of SeaWIFS Ocean Color Data Monthly means

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) Low concentrations linked to NAO Intrusion Labrador Sea water Colder Fresher Lower nutrients

 Positive NAO, warm salty, Slope water enters GOM Negative NAO, cold, fresh, Labrador Sea Water enters GOM

Class Project & Mid Term Generate panels of monthly chlorophyll 2003 to 2008 Find monthly NAO indexes over the period Examine GoMOOS buoys What do you think about speculations about NAO influence on chlorophyll concentrations?

May 2005 Low Temperature and Salinity NAO Index: -0.13 Relatively greater chlorophyll production

Class conclusions and my reservations A negative NAO index did not reliably predict lower productivity (SST not considered) (Stratification not investigated) (Eyeball, not statistically based) (Giovanni only displayed colors using a linear scale)

Problem based learning Service learning FOCB Buoy Giovanni and GoMOOS