| This was the 8th day of the Maritime
Mathematics Summer Institute for Teachers offered
jointly by Bridgewater State College, Southeast
PALMS Coalition and the Schooner Ernestina
Commission. The first five days took place at BSC
and this week is in New Bedford. Two days are
aboard the schooner with three days ashore at
Ernestina's office/museum. The images show our track out of the
harbor after a briefing at dockside. On the way
out we organized a logistics team to ready a
plankton net and gear, stream the taffrail log
and prepare for the net deployment. The meter net
was streamed at the surface for a run of 2/10
nautical mile. A calculation revealed the volume
of water sampled and when the sample came aboard,
participants noted the various species including
a trumpet fish, ctenophores and spider crab
larvae. In addition, there were the crab zoea
with extremely long beaks! Biomass and plankton
density could be extrapolated.
Other activities on deck
included studying the mechanics of the Ernestina
windlass with weights, tape measures and spring
scales. We discussed static and dynamic friction,
mechanical advantage and simple machines. Others
were at the chart trying various navigational
techniques (as fog and low visibility might
allow) A fourth station focused on physical
parameters of the water with electronic equipment
brought by David Small.
After lunch we set sail back
into the harbor with navigation and other
discussions taking place on the way back to the
dock.
Wind: light
Visibility: Poor in fog
Captain: Amanda
Madeira
Program Coordinator: Inette Rex
|
