Which Way the Wind Blows

1. The uneven heating of the earths surface is caused by the tilt of the earth. The suns rays hit the surface of earth at such an angle that it unproportionately heats certain parts of the earth while other parts are not heated. If the rays were to hit the earth at a direct path as opposed to at an angle, the earth would be much hotter. The equator receives more direct rays and as a result it is hotter there than the rest of the planet. This can be shown by shining a flashlight directly on a globe at an angle as well as directly.I learned how important the tilt of the earth is because without it the earth would be much hotter and potentially uninhabitable. 

2. As a result of the earth rotating, the winds and oceans are affected. Consequently, the winds and oceans also affect each other. The coriolis effect is a result of the earths rotation. It causes winds and currents north of the equator to turn the right. The winds and currents turn to the left in the southern hemisphere.Hadley cells are the pattern in which things circulate. This can be shown by spinning a flat surface around something and dropping a rollable object on it. The object will not go right to the outside of the surface, it will curve there. 

3. The global wind patterns are an important part of the earth. In each hemisphere, there are polar easterlies, trade winds, doldrums, and prevailing westerlies. They are all located between different latitudes and have different effects. The polar easterlies cool down the rest of the earth with their cool winds. The doldrums are an area around the equator in which very little wind is produced.

The winds could change due to global warming as a result of the melting of the ice caps. If there is no ice to cool the air then there is no polar easterlies.  

Molasses Spill

The molasses spill off of the coast of Hawaii is an environmental nightmare. Although not as dangerous as an oil spill, much the the sea life is being affected by the spill and many even dying. The video recorded by a local diver shows the true affects of the spill, turning the once blue-green water into a brown mess. The video also shows many dead fish floating around or sinking to the ocean floor. As a result of a faulty pipe pumping the molasses into the ocean instead of it's destination in California The sticky molasses takes the oxygen out of the water and blankets the ocean floor.
           The molasses spill is not only harmful to the marine life in the area, but also to humans as well. Although the molasses does no affect to humans, the dead and rotting fish in the water are making it unsafe to swim in. AS far as clean up goes, much of the work will be done naturally using the tides to wash it all out. The man who recorded the underwater mess said that, "We had a large sewage spill six or eight years ago. It was a stinky mess, but nothing like this."

Experimental Design

I was not able to go on the recent Oceanography field trip so I wrote about the experimental deign of a research trip to the South Pacific. I was familiar with some of the materials that the trip would require due to our most recent in class project with the underwater habitat. The trip would be a minimum of two weeks because just arriving to the destination took seven days. With that in mind, I planned the resources accordingly. There would be plenty of food, and I made sure that there were enough oxygen tanks and other necessary materials to observe the clams properly without harming them. It would be better if the clams would perform their mating ritual while on board the ship so that the scientists don't have to be underwater for the four-six hour mating process. Some of the other materials that may be necessary for the best operation are large holding tanks, and natural materials from the clams natural environment so that the snails are as comfortable as possible as to perform their mating while on the ship. If the scientists were to perform an autopsy on one of the clams, they would need surgical equipment such as a scalpel and would also need a microscope as to view the clam clearly. 

I am taking this class because it seems very interesting. I do not enjoy the sciences the require various forms of math in order to perform. I took honors biology freshman year and i really enjoyed it. I am hoping for the same result in here. Also because the world around us is predominantly water and it is important to understand.