Educational Activities

E-mail Responses
< Return to the E-mail responses main page.

9-2-03

Colby
Mr. Scott
McAlester HS, McAlester, Oklahoma
Question 1:
Is anyone still seasick? How long does it take to get well?

Answer:
As we were heading west, hardly anyone was seasick. But, now that we are heading north, again into the trade winds, a few people are getting sea sick. In general, for people that get sea sick it takes two days for the nerve endings in their ears to adjust. Which means they can feel nauseated for 2-3 days. Only two people have needed any type of medication for sea sickness since the third day of our voyage.

Astronomy Class
Mr. Scott
McAlester HS
McAlester, Oklahoma
Question 2:
Have you noted any differences in the sunsets or sunrises at sea? Have you seen a Green Flash? Have you noted southern bright stars or constellations not normally seen from home in the states?

Answer:
I have enjoyed numerous sunrises and sunsets while on this cruise. I am from the coastal areas of Texas and I have not noticed much difference. The only thing that is very different is the vast amount of water and when the sun light hits the water it is beautiful. Several of us have noticed a green hue around the sun as it sets. For more on this, refer to the journal entry from August 30 on the web site. We’ve not seen any southern constellations because most of the time we have been too far north. We are presently around 27.4 degrees N which is actually further north than south Texas. Also, the humidity is too high to see many constellations clearly.

John
Mr. Scott
McAlester HS, McAlester, Oklahoma
Question 3:
When gathering the rhizosolenia phytoplankton, how can you tell the difference from others species of phytoplankton?

Answer:
Well, first of all there are about 15 species of fresh and salt water species of rhizosolenia. The migration behaviors that we are studying are common for all rhizosolenia. We can tell the difference between rhizosolenia and other phytoplankton at the same depths, (around 30 feet below the surface) because rhizosolenia cells form colonies, known as mats. So, the divers look for the mats, which are very obvious in the water. Some mats are so large, you can see them from the surface of the water.

< Return to the E-mail responses main page.

For questions or comments about the STEAMER site
please contact Luis Martinez at: