Year: 2017

I am wrapping up my high school level marine science class. I have really enjoyed all the lessons and projects. Today I worked on an experiment about oil spills and different processes to clean them up. 

I had 100ml of oil. I was able to skim off only 30 ml.

The oil soaked into the dirt, feathers and all the water.

I was able to use a dispersant (dish soap) to break up the oil in the water.

Back to class. I should finish this week with the entire class. This is my second high school credit. Not bad for a 6th grader.

Everything in my room had exploded and Mom said enough is enough. She spent a good chunk of the day cleaning and purging our closets and rooms. I was shocked at the end. She didn’t really throw much out other than trash, clothes that don’t fit and a few piles of scrap type paper I had collected.

Mom, my friend and I gave parts of a presentation of a good vs bad demonstration. The crowd wasn’t that big but what we taught was important for 4H.

 

Today we went to Weedon Island for a Salt Pond Hike. We got to take water samples from the pier and a few ponds. We used a cool collection contraption.

We checked salinity, water temperature and turbidity. Turbidity was silly to check since we could see the bottom so we abandoned that measurement. We compared the ponds and their circulation to see how life would survive. the Most shallow pond had the highest salinity. I think this was because the water evaporated and there was little circulation with the kayak trails since the water level was so low. It was also the warmest pool, assuringly because it was the shallowest and heated up faster.

Checking salinity.

It was a cool hike as always with Ms. Libby, the IFAS Sea Grant agent.

 

 

 

We have been watching and waiting all week. It took 2 weeks and 3 days, which is slightly longer than the last group. This beauty emerged today. It quickly stretched out and dried its wings and then flew away to the great migration!