Density currents drive 3D movements within the world’s oceans that dwarf surface currents by volume. Density-driven movements due to temperature/salinity differences keep the world’s oceans well mixed & help to re-distribute heat from tropical areas towards polar areas. Resultant upwelling creates some of the world’s richest ocean ecosystems. Density movements known as turbidity currents are the world’s largest
Many students are familiar with topographic maps showing relief of land surfaces. In this lab they will produce their own bathymetric maps, the underwater equivalent. A bathymetric map shows sea floor features by contouring depths below sea level (instead of elevation above sea level as in topographic maps). Students will first probe depths in “Mystery Bay”, a box
Article about Bill Schmoker's upcoming PolarTREC expedition aboard the USCGC Healy in the Arctic Ocean. View the actual article at the Boulder Daily Camera Online.
This video was shot by Mike Etnier at Makanrushi Island, Russia in July 2008. This is underwater footage of one of several large schools of Atka mackerel that were feeding on krill at the surface. See "Atka mackerel and krill" for surface footage of one of the schools of fish and underwater footage of the krill. For more
This video was shot by Mike Etnier at Makanrushi Island, Russia in July 2008. There are several thousand Atka mackerel feeding on krill at the surface. See "Atka mackerel school" for under-water footage of one of the schools of fish. For more details on the feeding aggregation, and its relevance to our archaeology studies, read the journal entry