Aquarius the Underwater Laboratory:

Aquarius the Underwater Laboratory:

The National Geographic Channel series Naked Science had an episode called The Dangers of the Deep, which describes the underwater observatory, Aquarius. Aquarius is owned by NOAA and operated by NURC/UNCW. This observatory is found three and a half miles offshore, at a depth of sixty feet and is off the coast of Key Largo at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Aquarius is equipped with microwaves, telephones, and computers so divers are always connected to people on land. For ten days, six biologists go to Aquarius to do research on the coral reefs. Biologists are able to scuba dive for nine hours and study shallow environment of fifty to 100 feet.
Biologist at Aquarius use saturation diving when conducting research. By doing this, scientists are able to stay in the water for a longer period. This is because depth, gas mixture and supply, weather, and decompression obligation are no longer a factor because scientists stay at a depth of sixty feet. Since these factors are no longer a problem, a diver can stay around that depth for an unlimited amount of time and decompress once the dive has ended.
Aquarius has supported 80 missions since 1993 pertaining to coral reefs, the harvesting of fish, disease, and climate change. Aquarius scientists have discovered the damaging effects ultraviolet light has on coral reefs and how corals feed and grow.Schools around the United States have teamed up with Aquarius for an educational outreach program. Point-to-point video conferences and web chats allow students to learn about science projects and underwater studies.

Work Cited:
Miller, Steve. "Live Web Chat and Video Conference: NASA Mission in NOAA's Aquarius (06/09/03)." NURP. NURP, 09 June 2003. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. .
Moore, Barbara. "NOAA's Aquarius Featured on CNN.Com and ABCNEWS (07/20/05)." NURP. 20 July 2005. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.
Gordon, Bart. "Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Reps :: Member Speech :: E&E Subcommittee Chairman Baird’s Remarks on the Floor on Loss of Aquanaut at NOAA Undersea Research Center." Web Site for the Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives :: Welcome. 07 May 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. .

Pinky and the Brain: Alvin

Pinky and the Brain: Alvin

Click here to see part of the episode

“Pinky and the Brain” episode pertaining to the HOV Alvin was very entertaining however many of the images depicted were false, but some held true. For instance, in the episode a rope attaches Alvin to a dock. Pinky and the Brain simply untie the rope and steal the submersible without detection. In real life, Alvin is under far more security. The episode also depicted Alvin as a submersible that rides on the surface of the water, goes 12 knots, and makes journeys that last seven months. In reality, Alvin can go at a cruise speed of 0.5 knots, and a full speed of 2 knots, which is not very fast. Alvin also does not operate on the ocean’s surface. Alvin can actually dive to 4,500 meters and does most research on the seafloor. In addition, Alvin cannot last seven months at sea running just on battery power. In reality, a normal dive time last six to ten hours. The episode depicts Alvin as being very spacious with big windows, when in actuality Alvin has sealed pressurized compartments, and three very small windows. This episode also portrayed Alvin as having an attachable ROV named Jason Jr. In actuality, Alvin does not have an ROV attached to it. However, in the episode, Brain uses the ROV to searching for a deepwater white crab to add to his hypnotizing pancake mixture. He looks at the Titanic site because white crabs are affluent there. In reality, titanic site does not host white crabs, and the crabs do not have a hypnotizing power.

However, there is some truth to the “Pinky and the Brain” episode, The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute actually owns an ROV named Jason. They also mention that the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute owns Alvin, which is also true. The white crab Brain was searching for is not found at the Titanic site, however it is found at hydrothermal vents because chemosynthesis can be performed.

The “Pinky and the Brain” episode may have offended Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, but I found it to be extremely funny!

http://www3.telus.net/greenfish/animaniacs/brain/index.html

The link above will lead you to Pinky and the Brain Episode Facts. Here are some listed on this site:

+ Woods Hole is also home to the Alvin submersible and Jason Jr. robotic probe seen in this episode, which are actual vehicles used by Bob Ballard in a 1986 exploration of the Titanic. (KP) + Alvin is really one of half dozen or so subs that are capable of diving to the Titanic's depth. NIT: Alvin must be brought into place by a support ship, as it only has about 12 hours of battery power. (BEC) + Jason Jr. was designed to be a tethered remote for Alvin, and was used during the second Woods Hole Titanic expedition in 1986, but has since been retired. Minor nit, the real JJ is blue. (BEC) - NIT: The radar transponder about the Alvin has two knobs to set the code in the scene where Pinky scrambles it, and three when they come back from the first commercial break. (JM) + Pinky's asking if he can be Queequeg is a reference to the Polynesian harpooner in Herman Melville's 1851 novel "Moby Dick". (JS, GJB) + Sub Club == The Club, a popular anti-theft device found on many automobile steering wheels. (BN) - The reference to the sub being able to make only right turns could be a nod to J. Edgar Hoover's alleged superstition about all things sinistral. He was purported to have believed that left turns were bad luck, and his chauffeurs would often travel incredibly circuitous routes to reach places that could have been traveled in minutes using left turns. (ALS) + Pinky quotes a line from Baywatch. Baywatch is a popular syndicated program whose plot centers around showing as many beautiful female and male lifeguards running around the beach in skimpy swimsuits as possible in one hour. (BN)

Work Cited

"Alvin Specifications : Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution." Home : Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. .

Fishing is a Sport

Fishing is a Sport

Many people believe fishing is just a hobby, but I think fishing is a sport because there are special techniques involved when hooking a fish. First off, the time of day, season, and temperature of the water play a factor in finding where the fish are. In the spring, fish do not bite as much in the morning and early afternoon because the water is to cold. As the water warms throughout the day, fish tend to become more active in the evening. In the summer season, fish tend to bite more in the early morning because food is abundant and in the early evening, because the water starts to cool off from the hot day. In the fall fish tend to be more active in the late evening because, the water has absorbed heat from radiating from the sun. Fall is also the best season to fish because the fish are putting on weight for the winter. Temperature plays a role in fishing as well. Warm water tends to attract baitfish, which in turn attracts larger game fish. On hot summer day’s fish tend to move to cooler water that is deeper

Second thing an angler needs to know is how to play the fish. This involves two steps, the first being to retrieve the fishing line quickly as the rod is lowered until it is horizontal and pointed at the fish. The second step is to stop reeling in the line and to raise the rod up slowly. These steps are repeated until the fish is landed. Each playing of the fish is different depending on the type of fish being caught. Shallow water fish tend to jump more while deeper water fish tend to make a run for deeper water. Deeper water fish are harder to reel in because they are stronger and bigger and always run. The best way to catch these types of fish is to reel when the fish has slowed on stopped running. When reeling these big fish anglers pull the rod up and reel downward.

The third thing an angler needs to know is how to land the fish. There are five ways to land a fish. The first way is to pick the fish up by the mouth using the thumb and index finger to crab the lower jaw. The second technique is to use a gaff. Most anglers use this technique when they know they will be keeping the fish and when the fish is big enough to keep. The third way is to net a fish. Nets are made today to withstand a lot of weight. For this technique the net is placed in the water and the fish is then lead to it head first. The fourth technique is the eye pick up, but it is not recommended if the angler plans to release the fish. The fifth technique is to beach a fish. This is when a fish is hooked in deeper water, reeled into shallower water, and gradually to land.

Fishing is a sport because many techniques are used in finding a fish, playing the fish, and landing the fish. Angler put a lot of effort into catching all types of fish.

Work cited
State, By. "Take Me Fishing | When to Fish." When to Fish. Web. 07 Nov. 2010.
State, By. "Take Me Fishing | Landing the Fish." Landing the Fish. Web. 07 Nov. 2010.
State, By. "Take Me Fishing | Playing the Fish." Playing the Fish. Web. 07 Nov. 2010.