Tools

DRAFT POST:
Tools for observing the marine world:


Satellites circling the Earth.
Research ships.
Unaided human eye.
Binoculars.
Radar.
----------- water line -----------
Sonar.
Probes, CTD and other sensors.
Submersibles.
ROVs Remotely Operated Vehicles.
AUVs Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.
Position GPS locators/transmitters attached to marine animals.
Buoys.
Hooks and nets to catch fish/nekton.
Plankton net to catch plankton.
Microscope (optical).
Electron microscope.

Issues

DRAFT POST:
Marine issues may include....

1. Extreme weather events.
2. Temperature of atmosphere.
3. Temperature of water. SST.
4. Salinity.
5. Acidity.
6. DO and hypoxia.
7. Carbon and Nitrogen
8. Sea level height.
9. Over fishing.
10. By-catch, including seabirds in fishing nets.
11. Species changing their range and migration times.
12. Species in decline and biodiversity challenges.
13. Invasive species.
14. Plastics and other trash, in gyres.
15. Microbeads eaten by zooplankton, then fish, then humans.
16. Mercury and Lead, from manufacturing processes.
17. Other Pollutants.
18. Sound pollution.
19. Changes in deep currents and surface currents.
20. Melting of glaciers.
21. Thinning of Arctic Ocean ice.
22. Interaction with wind-farm turbines.

What can be seen?

DRAFT UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Things we may see at or above the waterline!

SEABIRDS:
Top 20 species we may see.
How to ID them. What do they eat? Where do they breed? Status?
Include grouping of similar species we could hope to see: Skuas 2, Jaegers 3, Storm-petrels 2, Phalaropes 2, Loons 2, Fulmar and 4 Shearwaters,

MARINE MAMMALS:
Top 20 species we may see.
How to ID them. What do they eat? Where do they breed/calve? Status?

FISHING BOATS AND GEAR:
Top types we may see.
How to ID them. What do they catch? Status.

FISHING GEAR:
All types of nets, hooks, dredging, dragging, weir, etc.

Profile

DRAFT UNDER CONSTRUCTION....

Profile of the GOM GNATS 210-mile transect.


HORIZONTALLY:



VERTICALLY:




Interesting areas near this transect:
Cashes Ledge.
etc etc

Q & A

Questions which come up will be listed here, with answers, to the best of our combined/collective knowledge. Some answers will be immediate, and some may take a little research.