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Avatar of Lisa Ayers Lawrence

by Lisa Ayers Lawrence

Coral Bleaching: A White Hot Problem

December 18, 2009 in Education Materials

Bleached brain coral (Credit: NOAA)

Bleached brain coral (Credit: NOAA)


Some of the planet’s most beautiful and diverse ecosystems are at risk. With temperatures on the rise, coral reefs are at greater risk for coral bleaching. Using ocean observing system data from NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center, this classroom activity examines ocean temperatures off Puerto Rico to see how coral reefs are being impacted and predict what’s on the horizon. Brought to you by Sea Grant’s Bridge website and COSEE-NOW.

This activity was developed in response to the 2005 massive coral bleaching event in the Caribbean caused by high sea surface temperatures. Using ocean observing system data, water temperatures can be monitored to evaluate the likeliness of other bleaching events.

Via the COSEE-NOW online community, we were able to receive valuable feedback on making the graph of water temperature more user-friendly and expanding the discussion questions to evoke some higher level thinking from students.

This activity has been demonstrated to teachers at the National Marine Educators Association conference and Virginia Sea Grant professional development institutes; and to graduate students in several different settings.

Check out Coral Bleaching: A White Hot Problem available on the Bridge

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Avatar of Sage Lichtenwalner

by Sage Lichtenwalner

The Scarlet Knight Crosses the Atlantic!

December 4, 2009 in NOW News

The Scarlet Knight is recovered off the Coast of Spain early in the morning on December 4, 2009

The Scarlet Knight is recovered off the Coast of Spain early in the morning on December 4, 2009

A new era of oceanography has begun…

Just after daybreak this morning, the scientists and crew aboard the Investigador spotted the Scarlet Knight Glider bobbing up and down on the surface of the ocean off the coast of Spain. During the next few minutes, a camera crew and divers took pictures of the glider in the water to document the accumulation of biological growth on the hull for future research. Then, with cameras rolling in and above the water, scientists from Rutgers University and Puertos del Estado pulled the Scarlet Knight from the waves after its long adventure.

The Scarlet Knight, also known as RU27, spent over 220 days in the water and travelled 7,389 km (4,591 miles) to reach its destination in European waters, becoming the first underwater robot to cross the Atlantic ocean.

The ship and glider are currently making their way back to the port of Baiona, Spain, and should arrive early Saturday morning. An official celebration in Baiona will be held on December 9th. Shortly thereafter, the glider will make it’s way back to the United States where additional celebrations will be held at Rutgers University and in Washington D.C. before hopefully going on tour around the country.

Scientists and crew aboard the Investigador with The Scarlet Knight Glider (also known as RU27)

Scientists and crew aboard the Investigador with The Scarlet Knight Glider (also known as RU27)

For more information about the glider, and to see the latest news on her recovery, please check out our Atlantic Crossing site at http://rucool.marine.rutgers.edu/atlantic.

We also encourage you to check out a sneak “preview” of the forthcoming documentary on the glider’s voyage. Just as RU27 was piloted by undergraduate students on her mission, much of the documentary was filmed and is being edited by students in the Rutgers writing program. You can see the preview of their work at http://rucool.marine.rutgers.edu.

Finally, don’t forget to keep up to date on all the celebrations by following the glider on Twitter, Facebook, or the I-COOL Science Blog.

Thank you for being part of the adventure!

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Avatar of Sage Lichtenwalner

by Sage Lichtenwalner

Send a Letter Across the Atlantic Ocean

March 19, 2009 in NOW News

Looking for a cool way to get your students involved in ocean exploration?

This spring, scientists and students from Rutgers University will send an underwater robotic glider on a mission to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The 3,300 mile voyage will take at least six months for the slow-moving low-energy glider to make it across.

And now your classrooms can be a part of this historic mission!

To get involved, all they have to do is write a letter to the other side of the Atlantic. We’ll put all the classroom letters we collect in the next few weeks inside the glider. (Technically, we’ll put them on a thumb drive, so we’re asking for scanned or faxed letters from teachers.) We’ll also post all the letters we get on the mission web site. And if the glider makes it across, we’ll send copies of the letters back to the classrooms they came from, postmarked from the glider’s destination.

As the glider embarks on its journey, we hope you’ll invite your students to follow along. If they have a letter in the glider, they’ll become vested in checking out the ocean conditions around the glider as it flies through oceanic storms and remora infested waters.

We encourage you to use this exciting opportunity to engage your students in the excitement of ocean exploration.

For more details check out the Atlantic Crossing Mission site and check out the online form for submitting your letters.

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