More Internship Work

I got some work done at the IfA recently, a total of 2 hours. I haven't been able to do a lot before now due to a lack of pictures. I've got a little more work now, and next time I go I'll have more pictures to work on.

Contact with JD

I've recently heard from JD, and he says that he might have a project for me to do. He says he wants to first measure the temperatures of three stars, and then confirm the temperature measurement of a supernova. I'm hoping to talk with him in person soon.

Still No Progress

I haven't received any emails from J.D. I've tried calling him, but when he didn't answer I had to leave a message. I think the original email may have been incorrect, so I found a different one and emailed him there. Still hoping for a response.

Found a Possible Internship Contact

I recently obtained the email and phone number of Astronomer J.D. Armstrong. I've emailed him, but I haven't gotten a reply yet. I hope to get one soon.

Introduction to Plankton

Introduction: Plankton, from the Greek planktos, means "wanderer," or "drifter," is any organism which cannot fight the current. Plankton is classified in various different ways, such as energy source, color, lifestyle, and size. Some plankton photosynthesizes, while other types are heterotrophic. Plankton can be green, blue-green, brown, or gold. Plankton may remain plankton its entire life, or it may be plankton only for one stage in its life. Finally, plankton can be small (on the order of .005 mm), like algae, or large like jellyfish. Plankton produces 90% of all the breathable air on Earth.

Question: How diverse is the plankton population in South Maui?

Hypothesis: I think that there will be over 100 species of plankton in the water around South Maui.

Materials:

• collection net
• vial
• microscope
• slide
• coverslip
• paper
• pencil

Procedure:

Salinity Test:

1. Set water tester to measure salinity
2. Dip in sample water
3. Record results

Temperature Test:

1. Dip thermometer into water
2. Wait until the red marker stops moving
3. Record results

Disolved Oxygen Test:

1. Take sample of water
2. Drop in Oxygen Test Tablet and shake until disolved
3. Wait 5 minutes
4. Compare color and record results

Phosphates Test:

1. Take water sample
2. Drop in Phosphate Test Tablet and shake until disolved
3. Wait 5 minutes
4. Compare color and record results

Nitrates Test:

1. Take water sample
2. Drop in Nitrate Test Tablet and shake until disolved
3. Wait 5 minutes
4. Compare color and record results

pH Test:

1. Set water tester to measure pH
2. Dip into water
3. Wait until results appear on screen
4. Record results

Turbidity Test:

1. Pour water into graduated cylinder to the correct height
2. Place over symbol and compare visual results to chart
3. Record results

Data:

• Sailinity: 26 ppt
• Temperature: 20.46
• Disolved Oxygen: 0
• Phosphates: 4
• Nitrates: 2
• Current: Motionless
• pH: 8.09
• Turbidity: 0
• Plankton species identified: approx. 5, many more still in sample though

Conclusion: We began this experiment wondering how many species of plankton there were in Maui waters. I suspected they would be numerous, over 100. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm or deny that number today because we only had the time and resources to ID 5 species. There were still many more in the sample. This was our main source of error, but others may include improper tool use, incorrect identification, incorrect use of Detain, and improper imaging methods.

Beach Profiling

Profiling the beach: The path goes over the dune.

Teammates checking out the area we observed.

Beach profiling is the process of measuring the height of a beach at different points so you can see what the beach would look like in profile. It allows us to look at the beach from the side, which is a perspective we could only actually achieve by going underground. The main factors affecting the profile of beaches are wind, waves, and human activity.

If you wanted to profile a beach, follow these instructions:

1. 
   
   Locate the beginning marker on the beach. Find its GPS coodinates.


2. 
   
   Locate the direction perpendicular to the ocean and find its direction in degrees. Measure out the length with a transect line.


3. 
   
   Place the Rise measuring stick on the beginning point. Place the Run measuring stick so it just contats the Rise stick (in the direction of the transect line). Make sure both are level and take measurements from both (upward movements are negative where downward ones are positive).


4. 
   
   Move the Rise stick to the current location of the Run stick and place the Run stick so it just contacts the Rise stick. Level and measure.


5. 
   
   Repeat 3-4 until the Run stick reaches the foot of the beach. Place the Run stick in the center of the foot (this may mean that the Run stick goes past the Rise stick). Level and measure.


6. 
   
   Analyze your data.

Sand Analysis Lab

Original images of the Cove have been lost. This beach is the best representation.

Charley Young

The Cove

Charley Young

Introduction: A beach is a location where a sediment is actively being exchanged through tidal movements. This sediment can be any number of types of sediment, but it is usually called sand. Sand can be classified as either biogenic (produced by living creatures) or detrital (produced by nonliving objects eroded down (detritus)). The purpose of this lab is to select several Maui beaches and determine whether the sand there is biogenic or detrital. Most of the biogenic material comes from coral. Coral is built from calcium carbonate. When calcium carbonate comes into contact with acetic acid (vinegar), it produces calcium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide. You can hear the carbon dioxide being produced; it creates a crackling noise.

Question: Which beaches on Maui have detrital sand, and which ones are biogenic?

Hypothesis: I believe that the Cove and Charley Younge both have mostly biogenic sand. If the sand is biogenic, it will chemically react with vinegar.

Materials:

• Cups


• Some form of transportation


• Tape


• Markers


• Two beaches (The Cove and Charley Younge in this case)


• Beakers


• Pipettes


• Vinegar

Procedure:

1. Collect samples. Place in labled cups.


2. Place sand in beakers. The sand should just cover the bottom of the beaker.


3. Using a pipette, drop one milliliter of vinegar into the beaker with the sand.


4. Check for a reaction. Sometimes the reaction will be visible but if not, place ear over the opennig of the beaker to hear for the crakling.


5. Record results.

Data: The Cove had a large amount of rock availible, but most was placed by people, and thus had little time to erode. I suspect that very little sand will be detrital. Charley Young may have some natural rock formations, but the sand is still a pale color which indicates that much of it is ground coral and thus biogenic. Both sand samples reacted when they came into contact with the acetic acid.

Conclusion: During this lab, we asked ourselves which beaches were biogenic and which were detrital. I suspected that the Cove and Charley Young were both mostly biogenic, and that if this were the case, they would react with acetic acid. Because both samples reacted with the acetic acid, both samples must have contained biogenic material.

Sources of Error: The sand may not have been representative of the beach, though this is unlikely. Variations in the amount of acetic acid introduced to the sand, and the sand itself may have altered the reaction. Our test was not specific enough to tell how much of the sand was biogenic, so even the mostly detrital beaches reacted because they still contained some of the calcium carbonate.