The Oceans: A Physical Geography

A wonderful video prepared by a student in GEOG 3315

2008-11-28T10:42:00.001-08:00

From: Nicole Ashley Aube for the GEOG 3315 "show what you know by what you do" assignment.

As if you don't hear me talk enough....

2008-11-25T17:34:00.001-08:00

Just in case you're interested...

Environmental stewardship in Nova Scotia:
A review of community-based monitoring
by

Cathy Conrad, PhD
Associate Professor Geography Department Saint Mary's University

Friday, November 28 at 4:00 pm
Room 1014, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Bldg
6100 University Avenue

This presentation will draw upon experiences from the Community-Based Environmental Monitoring Network, housed within the Department of Geography at Saint Mary's University. Over 50 organized environmental stewardship organizations across Nova Scotia are actively engaged in environmental monitoring and stewardship. It has been well documented that the integration of meaningful public participation into environmental management is not only important but also critical for sustainable development and perhaps even one of the most significant developments in resource management since the beginning of the environmental movement. Based on experiences with watershed organizations in the Nova Scotia over the past four years, common benefits, challenges and recommendations for successful citizen science were compiled.

Sunken Barge off the Coast of NS

2008-11-24T17:39:00.000-08:00

Let's hope that the barge that sunk off Yarmouth this past weekend does not lead to an environmental disaster. The coming days will tell more in terms of whether more diesel and oil are leaking into the ocean. Read about what the state of knowledge as of Nov. 24 is at the CBC online. Perhaps of even more interest, read the comments that people are leaving related to this story!

A word (or two) about Washington

2008-11-17T16:41:00.000-08:00

So I think it is fair to say that everyone had an amazing trip to Washington. I want to

thank Emma Hicks for randomly posting about the Sant Ocean Hall. I guess what she might

not have known at the time is that I like to take good ideas and literally run with them.

You only live once, right?

This was my first time in Washington and I was thoroughly impressed. One of the best experiences (well, a close second to Obama anyway), was experiencing this with a group of amazing people. I am starting to compile many of your photos and plan to prepare a proper video (accompanied by a proper soundtrack) but in the meantime, I put together a montage of some of my photos. The music gets redundant and it ends abruptly: stay tuned for something far better that will be a part of a reunion "Pictures and Pitchers" event in January. Thank you all for being great students, and for being so engaged in the learning experiences that this trip provided for us all.

-Cathy

Something to think about....

2008-10-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a financial motivation to do a good job on your research papers!

The Nova Scotian Institute of Science (NSIS) invites university students to send submissions to the annual NSIS Student Science Writing Awards Competition. Prizes are awarded in three categories:

Undergraduate Science: $250
Graduate Science: $500
Science Writing: $250

Notification of intent required by: Nov. 28, 2008.
Article submission deadline: Feb. 20, 2009.

For more information:
NSIS Student Science Writing Awards

Bedford Institute of Oceanography

2008-10-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that we are going to B.I.O this Thursday: meet in the Burke Building foyer at 11:25. If you want to read a bit about B.I.O before we go, you can learn about it here.

Great: all I need is another web site addiction!

2008-10-08T18:47:00.001-07:00

Google has launched its marine protected areas application. Read about it here. Take a look at Google Earth and start scanning the world's seas for impacted and protected areas.

New marine CO2 monitoring project initiated

2008-10-01T19:28:00.001-07:00

Read about it here.

National Geographic: Origins of the Ocean

2008-10-01T17:33:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Isaac for bringing this video to my attention through his blog.

Meeting this Friday

2008-09-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

There will be a meeting to discuss the logistics and potential for a bus trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the Smithsonian Institute from November 7-11. The meeting will be held in Burke 205 from 1-2 pm.

Field Trip to the Smithsonian?

2008-09-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

It's kind of last-minute, but you never know....
One of you posted about this. I would be game to go.

Links with Good Sounds and Information on Underwater Acoustics

2008-09-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

The Centro Interdisciplinaire de Bioacustica e Richerche Ambientali (Interdisciplinary Center for Bioacoustics and Environmental Research: CIBRA), at the University of Pavia, Italy. Their Laboratory of Marine Bioacustics conducts research on the acoustic communication in animals.

NOAA's Whale Acoustic Project: a good introduction to the physics of underwater acoustics plus sound clips of many cetaceans, including blue, fin, minke and humpback whales.

Links to Humpback Songs:
PBS: Humpback Whales
DolphinEAR Sound Laboratory
WhaleLink: Song of the Humpback

Killer Whale Links:
WhaleLink: details on killer whale dialects, sound bytes and sonograms
OrcaFM: listen to British Columbia's killer whales live via satellite!

Dr. John Ford: a leading researcher in marine mammal acoustics. Listen to sounds of killer whales, humpbacks, belugas and narwhals!

Fish Acoustics: from the East Carolina University: listen to the sounds of the oyster toadfish, the spotted sea trout and the Red Drum!

Cornell University's Library of Natural Sounds: has over 130,000 wildlife sound bytes to listen to!

Cornell's Bioacoustics Research Program: A whale communication project looking at how to census whale populations using sound and addressing the issue of how human-created sound may affect marine mammals.

Sounding Out the Ocean's Secrets: An underwater acoustics page by the National Academy of Science.

Lecture at SMU on Underwater Acoustics this Friday

2008-09-28T06:38:00.001-07:00

SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY
Environmental Studies Program
Visiting Guest Lecturer

Dr. Yukio Tomita, Hokkaido University of Education,
Hakodate, Japan

“Physical Effect of Bubbles in Cavitation and Underwater Acoustics”

Friday, October 3, 2008 Time: 12:00 Noon Location: Science S310

Revised instructions on setting up a blog....

2008-09-25T16:57:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the author of the first set of instructions, who posted a comment on that post, we have an updated version that can be found at this site.
Thank you Dr. Krause!

Canary Islands and Turbidity Currents

2008-09-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Get your own - Open publication

Thanks for the question about the Canary Islands in class today, Ben. I came across this slide presentation prepared by two researchers at the Southampton Oceanography Centre. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Setting up blogs next week...

2008-09-18T18:36:00.001-07:00

I came across a really detailed set of instructions for setting up a blog from this site. If you wanted to get a head start on this feel free to go through the instructions and set one up. At least one of you already has (see sidebar). I'll be going over this next week as well.

Using science to delineate the extent of Canada's continental shelf.

2008-09-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to one of you (I love receiving links and interesting information related to the course), I wanted to share this web site with you regarding Canada's efforts to prepare a submission to the United Nations to define the limits of its extended continental shelf. Read about it here and here. Take a look at the extent of the ice cover change in the Arctic here. You may also find it interesting to track the oceanographic research ships that are at sea at present.

Hurricane "Y...Ike"!

2008-09-12T03:34:00.000-07:00

From the US National Weather Service: this is a warning to pay attention to! I am worried for the people who stay behind in Galveston, Texas!

ALL NEIGHBORHOODS...AND POSSIBLY ENTIRE COASTAL COMMUNITIES...WILL BE INUNDATED DURING THE PERIOD OF PEAK STORM TIDE. PERSONSNOT HEEDING EVACUATION ORDERS IN SINGLE FAMILY ONE OR TWO STORY HOMES WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH. MANY RESIDENCES OF AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION DIRECTLY ON THE COAST WILL BE DESTROYED. WIDESPREAD AND DEVASTATING PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE IS LIKELY ELSEWHERE.VEHICLES LEFT BEHIND WILL LIKELY BE SWEPT AWAY. NUMEROUS ROADS WILL BE SWAMPED...SOME MAY BE WASHED AWAY BY THE WATER. ENTIRE FLOOD PRONE COASTAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE CUT OFF. WATER LEVELS MAY EXCEED 9 FEET FOR MORE THAN A MILE INLAND. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN MULTI-STORY FACILITIES RISK BEING CUT OFF. CONDITIONS WILL BE WORSENED BY BATTERING WAVES. SUCH WAVES WILL EXACERBATE PROPERTY DAMAGE...WITH MASSIVE DESTRUCTION OF HOMES...INCLUDING THOSE OF BLOCK CONSTRUCTION. DAMAGE FROM BEACH EROSION COULD TAKE YEARS TO REPAIR.

I'll be posting more about Ike through the day. Stay tuned.

Something to look foward to!

2008-09-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

Arctic to be mapped this fall.

2008-09-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

Photo from NASA

Read about it here and here. What do you think?

We'll be watching this Sept. 9

2008-09-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

New shark breeding grounds found off Nova Scotia

2008-07-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

In a recent article in the Chronicle Herald and on CBC, it was reported that a Georges Bank mating area for porbeagle sharks was discovered by scientists at the Canadian Shark Research Laboratory. What is the significance of this discovery?

That's all for now...

2007-04-17T16:22:00.000-07:00

I won't be posting on this blog again until GEOG 2305 is offered again. I am going to continue to post on the Ocean Use and Management site, though. So you can keep on dropping by there periodically to see what I post if you would like!

Great site!

2007-04-06T18:37:00.001-07:00

I just came across this site: maybe some of you had already found it, but it is a great sourse of news and information related to the oceans.

April 6 IPCC Report

2007-04-06T18:22:00.001-07:00

The IPCC is escalating its call for urgent action on global warming with the April 6th release of its Working Group Two report “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.” Warnings for Canada include:

• More forest fires and a decline in northern forest cover
• Lower water levels in the great lakes, affecting navigation and water quality
• Earlier sea ice break up, significant water temperature rise, earlier spring snowmelt
• More heat waves and smog in urban areas

Research Paper Format

2007-03-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

10-15 p. double-spaced; use in-text referencing
If you have any questions or concerns about writing and formatting the research paper, go to the Writing Centre (in the Burke Building) or the Library for a style guide and some tips on organizing your content. You should have a good set of academic and general references and have read through and organized the content, looking for material to organize into the introduction and main body of the paper. Think about finding areas of consensus in the research as well as gaps in the research. The purpose of a research paper is often to find out what the literature agrees upon and what gaps in the knowledge remain.

In general, your paper should include most of the following. Depending on your particular topic, some of this may or may not be relevant.

1. WHERE: Overview and introduction: Spatial setting: where it is.
2. WHAT: Are the research methodologies being used and undertaken to study the topic.
3. WHY: Are these research projects being undertaken and why is the research important and useful.
4. RESULTS: What are the gaps in the research and what are the areas of consensus? What are the big research questions that remain related to your topic?
5. CONCLUSIONS: what are the major findings related to your topic? What are the most unique or surprising findings?

Evidence of Ocean Circulation Changing around Antarctica

2007-03-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

Read about it here.

Severe Canadian Weather

2007-03-12T15:39:00.002-07:00

Not just a talk about bad winter weather.
Tuesday, March 13 8pm
SMU Art Gallery
Dr. C. Conrad

Sharks and Soup

2007-03-07T16:40:00.001-08:00

Sharks are being killed for the consumption of shark fin soup. It needs to be banned. Eradicated. Read more about this specific issue in a great on-line article posted here. And more about shark conservation from a great organization and wonderful web site here.

Talk Tonight

2007-03-05T10:55:00.001-08:00

Classroom 3 (King's A&A Building, lower level), Ondaatje Hall (Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building, 6135 University Avenue), 7:00 pm The School of Journalism at the University of King's College, in partnership with the Dalhousie Student Union, are proud to host renowned Canadian journalist and military historian Gwynne Dyer on Monday, March 5. He will present "The Climate Wars," a talk on global warming. Free and all are welcome.

Save the Wave!

2007-03-04T15:31:00.000-08:00

Save the Wave! Read about it here.
(Thanks to Calem, who brought this to my attention on his blog).

Climate Change, Cod Decline and Atlantic Canada

2007-02-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

Read about it here.

Canadians for Kyoto

2007-02-18T11:38:00.001-08:00

Nation-Wide Kyoto Rally Sunday March 11th Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Canadians for Kyoto Rally is an independent initiative whose ultimate goal is to have Canada recommit to the Kyoto Protocol. It will be taking place simultaneously across the nation. http://www.canadiansforkyoto.com

If you are willing to dedicate time, energy or resources to this cause,contact us immediately. Leah Boutiller Email : LDBOUTIL@DAL.CA
Ryan Timoffee Email: canadiansforkyoto@hotmail.com

The Climate Action Network

2007-02-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

This is a great network to follow and their web site is full of interesting and meaningful information and links. I particularly like their "adopt an MP" program. I've adopted McGuinty. Poor man...

Tomorrow: Wed., Feb.14

2007-02-13T05:22:00.000-08:00

I had mentioned in class that we would meet for the presentation in the Sobey Building (scroll down to see relevant posting). It turns out that there are really only about 8 seats available: it is a very small room. If you are keen to go, I would urge you to do so, but please come and see me first or send me an e-mail so I can keep the list to send over to Dr. Tony Charles. Otherwise, the rest of us will have an informal class and talk about the research assignment. Don't worry about missing this discussion if you go to the talk; we can go over what is discussed in e-mails or a specific meeting.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Cathy

Climate Science Blog

2007-02-12T17:47:00.001-08:00

This is one of the best blogs on Climate Science, with leading atmpospheric researchers regularly contributing to it. Take a look. Hopefully you'll continue to regularly read it.

Two great documentaries

2007-02-11T09:59:00.000-08:00

"Who Killed the Electric Car?"
and
"The Great Warming"

‘Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world!’ -Joel Barker

Here's one way to become a millionaire

2007-02-10T15:40:00.000-08:00

British airline tycoon Richard Branson announced on Friday a $25-million prize for the first person or group to find a way to remove billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Go here to find out how to enter the contest!

Mark this on your calendar.

2007-02-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

Reminder!

2007-02-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

This is just a reminder that your test will take place on Monday, February 12 (not tomorrow, as had been originally scheduled).

Demand Action

2007-02-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

Demand Action.
The head of the IPCC compared the climate change science report that came out yesterday to 50 Pearl Harbours when asked how the world should respond. One day later, and the issue is off the front page of the news. Why is social, ethical, moral and environmental well-being so reprehensible to so many? Is it that the evil-doers might just turn out to be us? That we are the villians? When faced with information, we are no longer ignorant and can not remain in our formerly blissful state. The fact is that this information is inconvenient. But take inconvenient and run with it, because a decade from now, we might wish for inconvenient.

Global Warning

2007-02-02T06:02:00.000-08:00

So the IPCC report came out today. And the media around the world is reporting the results. Let's move forward from the science and think about, discuss, and use our imaginations to effect change. It begins now.

Listen to the summary from the co-convenors of the IPCC meeting here, which can be accessed from the main IPCC web site (look at the right-hand-side bar). I will be summarizing the findings of all the reports next week. You can start to think about what actions you can take; here is a good place to start

Carbon Dioxide and our Ocean Legacy

2007-01-30T15:36:00.000-08:00

Ocean chemistry is a fascinating and important sub-disciple of oceanography because it helps us to better understand potential and actual impacts of climate change. This link provides many useful documents to learn about topics such as ocean acidification.

We have ten years...

2007-01-28T04:57:00.000-08:00

Earth's climate is in crisis. There is no debate; no doubt. The actions that we take today and for the coming decade will determine the fate of our planet. The links between the ocean and climate change can be read here. There is no longer time to discuss impacts. We need to focus on actions and solutions, and we all have the ability to do this. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will be issuing their first report since 2001 this week. Read what thousands of the world's leading climate change scientists say when it comes out. The United States, Canada and Australia are dragging their feet. The UK is emerging as a leader. Read this to learn about the things our governments and business need and are talking about doing. But we all need to step up independently as well. I pledge, from this day forward, to minimize my impact in every decision and action that I take. I've cancelled a flight to San Fransicso. I was supposed to attend a conference there in April, but I will propose a teleconference instead. I will not be idle and wait for the outcomes, only to know that when my children are grown they will ask the question: "what were you doing about this, mom?"

What are you doing?

Sea Fog

2007-01-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

The birth of a new island

2007-01-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

I came across this fascinating blog that chronicles the adventures on the yacht Maiken. This post is relevant to this weeks' lectures.

Underwater Jamaica

2007-01-18T18:20:00.000-08:00

Rare Hurricane to strike Germany

2007-01-18T17:32:00.000-08:00

The German weather office is advising people not to go out at all later on today unless absolutely necessary and not to park their cars under trees or by the ocean. In Bavaria meteorologists issued a statement saying that skiing and walks in the woods are "not a good idea".
Read more here.

New Blog Look

2007-01-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

Did you think you were in the wrong place when this blog showed up on your screen?
I happen to have a very talented Greek friend who designed this for me. So this comes to you all the way from Athens.

Wed., Jan. 17

2007-01-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

GEOG 2305 is an important class today because I will be going over your "major research project". We'll be spending the entire lecture period to go over this in detail.

A word about el Nino 2007

2007-01-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

It certainly appears that El Nino (the warming of the equatorial Pacific Waters) has already peaked in intensity (probably in December), and is now starting to show a steady decline. Whether that steady decline continues is up for debate, but as of right now, we are probably dealing with a weak to slightly moderate El Nino. It is now anticipated that conditions may get back close to neutral by spring. What does this mean for Canada? Well, I think we may already be seeing the effects of a weakening of El Nino with the current pattern change which is trending toward a building West Coast ridge of high pressure which will certainly help dry out British Columbia. That same ridge is also allowing the very cold air from the far north to spill down through the Prairies, while blocking the moist, Pacific air from invading the country . The southern branch of the jet stream is getting supressed well to the south as the northern, polar jet becomes dominant. Eventually, that cold air will be taking up residence across a large portion of eastern Canada starting next week and probably continuing through at least the end of the month, if not longer. The coldest departures from normal will likely be across Ontario and Quebec the second half of this month, then less so as you progress to the east through the Maritimes and Newfoundland. Check out the latest sea surface temperature anomaly animation over the equatorial Pacific which is starting to show signs of a weakening el nino. Notice how the reds and oranges (well above normal water temps) shrink or disappear on the last image from January 3rd, which is indicating a trend of cooler waters being upwelled toward the surface in that region.

"Sea Fever"

2007-01-12T07:50:00.000-08:00

The view out my window today.

"Sea-Fever"

I must down to the seas again,

to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship

and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick

and the wind's song

and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face,

and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again,

for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call

that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day

with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray

and the blown spume,

and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again,

to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way

where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn

from a laughing fellow-rover

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream

when the long trick's over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)

I remember having to memorize this poem in Grade 5. We can find great understanding of our oceans in written and visual arts, as well as science.

Stop Global Warming

2007-01-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this site; it provides a lot of important and useful information related to climate change.

Mark this on your calendar

2007-01-11T16:24:00.000-08:00

Master Minds Lecture: Have humans wrecked our coasts?

When: Fri 02-Feb-2007 10:30 AM
Where: McCain Arts & Social Sciences Building, Scotia Bank Auditorium"6135 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4P9

Description: Estuaries and coastal seas are hotspots of diversity and productivity that have attracted people for settlement and resource use since earliest times. Thus, human influences on the near-shore ocean are as old as civilization yet have dramatically accelerated over the past 150-300 years. Dr. Lotze will acquaint us with the history of human-induced changes in 12 estuaries and coastal seas in Europe, North America and Australia using palaeontological, archaeological, historical, fisheries, and ecological data to reconstruct changes in marine mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, seafloor habitats, and water quality through time.

Presented by Heike K. Lotze, Canada Research Chair in Marine Renewable Resources, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University. Dr. Lotze is a marine biologist with strong interest in the human impact on marine species and ocean ecosystems. Her research tries to reconstruct the history of human-induced changes in coastal seas, to disentangle the cumulative effects of multiple human activities, and to analyze the consequences of changes on the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Dr. Lotze has received her PhD in biological oceanography from Kiel University in Germany and came to Dalhousie in 1999 as a post-doctoral fellow. She was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Marine Renewable Resources in 2006. Cost: No charge. RSVP appreciated.Contact: Burgess, Shawna 902-494-6051

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007

2007-01-08T18:11:00.000-08:00

Today's lecture continues with a more recent historical perspective. The importance of the understanding of the study of historical uses of the marine environment is shown here.

Lecture 1 Outline, Monday, Jan. 8 2007

2007-01-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

What is ocean science?
Goals of the course
History of Ocean Science:
Ancient uses of the ocean
Important early developments in the scientific and technological understanding of the oceans and navigation
Age of European discovery and exploration
The modern search for scientific knowledge of the oceans

Census of seas reveals amazing forms of life

2006-12-10T16:53:00.000-08:00

Read all about it here. And here.

2006-11-22T18:56:00.000-08:00

Ocean World

Introduction to The Oceans

2006-04-27T05:28:00.000-07:00