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Early Spring Plankton and Benthos

Hi Deanna, Greetings from Barrow, AK!!! I'm very impressed that you are doing wet work with no gloves! I've noticed in Barrow as we sample snow in lightweight gloves with plastic gloves over the to, my hands get cold easily. They are not even wet. Anyway, when they get the water samples in the CTD, what are they testing for in the water? Is it a biological or chemical test? Keep up the cool pictures! Thanks, Betsy Wilkening

Tue, 03/24/2009 - 13:34

Deanna Wheeler

Many scientists are collecting water for their experiments. Some test for the amount of chlorophyll there is in the water, which will tell them the about amount of phytoplankton, small plants, growing in the water. Other scientists are collecting water at different depths to see how the water changes. They take temperature readings and measurements about the light that flows through. As you can guess, the deeper the water, the lower the temperature. Less light can can penetrate the water also. Light is needed for plants to grow, even plants in the water. Other scientists test for nutrients like carbon, phosphorous, and other chemicals.