Investigators: Paff, Vincent, and Adams

Mystery Spill Crime Scene Investigation

Slide borrowed from Dr. Raphael Kudela Slide borrowed from Dr. Raphael Kudela

Slide borrowed from Dr. Raphael Kudela

Video Clip of Cleaning “Soiled” Birdhttp://www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/video/2007/11/20/sentinel-video-bird-bath

The Situatio

n

HAB ?

Pesticides?

Oil

Spill?

Slide borrowed from Dr. Raphael Kudela Slide borrowed from Dr. Raphael Kudela

How do Scientists Use Real-time Data?

Real-Time Data is data that is collected and disseminated within hours or weeks

In this case RTD on surface currents can help scientists trace and predict the paths of a mystery spill

CeNOOS Central & Northern California Ocean Observing System collects RTD on surface currents

RTD on Surface Currents

Scientist use High Frequency Radar to gather information about the direction and speed of the ocean’s surface currents. High frequency radio waves are emitted by antennae

and travel over the ocean The waves scatter over the ocean and travel back to a

receiving antennae The returning waves allow scientists to determine the

direction and speed of the surface currents

For a short tutorial about HFR and other types of Ocean Observing RTD go to CeNCOOS. Click on Module 1

Tutorial written by Matt Binder, Summer Intern MBARI/Presenter EARTH 2009 Workshop

Vector Activity

See Module 2 http://www.cencoos.org/documents/classroom/CeNCOOS_CSM2_Teacher_Supplement.pdf

“An early red tide event in September, dominated by Cochlodinium, did cause a major mortality event in shellfish, but was not reported by the

media. However, there were no toxins associated with the bloom that began in

early November.”

If not a toxin – then what?

Bird Death was correlated with algae plume but if not toxic then what? Dave Jessup (CDFA)

proposed that it was the foam of the spill.

Feather and Foam Activity

Students will test feathers in salt water and salt water and foam (food colored whipped egg white) to test whether the proteinaceous foam is to blame for the degradation of the waterproofing capabilities of the seabird’s feathers.

Students will walk through the scientific method of this activity

Activity followed by what the scientists found.

S

A simple experiment…

Pelican feathers dipped in seawater, foam, and sediment

Foam exposure coats the feathers, collapses the down and allows the water to contact the skin

Source: M. Miller, CDFG

This slide was borrowed From Dr. Raphael Kudela

Case Solved!

that resulted from the mixing of the decaying dinoflagellates

Proteinaceous foam compromised the water proofing characteristics of the seabirds’ feathers, causing their hypothermia.

Foam picture taken from Dr. Raphael Kudela’s EARTH 2009 presentation

Additional Background Material Timeline of Mystery Spill

http://www.cencoos.org/sections/news/algal_bloom_2007.shtml

Possible Extensions

Student Research on HAB Economic and Public Health Concerns

Student Research on HFRStudent Research on other Ocean Observing

systems used in Forecasting Public concerns

Extension: Learning more about Harmful Algae Blooms

http://www.cencoos.org/documents/about/HABs_Factsheet.pdf