Stacey Felgate
Land Ocean Biogeochemist & PhD student at the National Oceanography Center, Southampton. Mostly investigating land use influences on coastal health, and ‘blue carbon’.
Twitter: @StaceyFelgate
Location UK
Activity
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Hi Steve,
I'm by no means an expert in this, but really a mineral is a compound that occurs in nature in pure form. Talc is a mineral, as is diamond. A salt, chemically speaking, is an ionic compound without net charge. Salts can occur in pure form, in which case they are called mineral salts. As you correctly point out, 'salt' usually refers to NaCl, but...
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Stacey Felgate replied to Annette Powell
@AnnettePowell Ruby gave a fab explanation. If you want more, I'm a big fan of BBC Bitesize for quick explanations of concepts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z8c9q6f/articles/zdqr97h.
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Hi Amy,
You can see a photo of the scientific crew here: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03mountains/background/challenger/media/challengercrew.html
I don't know for sure, but given the period and the fact that women were not generally accepted aboard ships at that time I wouldn't expect there to have been any woman aboard.
Anita Conti is...
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Hi Sandra - that's a fab motivation! Documentaries like Blue Planet have had such a huge influence on people's attitudes towards the ocean, it's great to have film makers interested in the science.
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Every time I walk on a beach, I find something I didn't know about or need to look up. Such a fascinating place which has obviously sparked your interest! Welcome to the course.
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Hi Heather - great to have you with us!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Stacey Felgate
i'm sorry to hear your trip has been canceled - hopefully you'll be able to reschedule once things calm down. It's definately worth the trip - the Mesoamerican Reef is the second longest in the world (next to the Great Barrier, of course) and, whilst experiencing the many stressors (temperature rise, reduced oxygen, increased pollution, acidification) it is...
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Stacey Felgate replied to Vicky Moens
Great question, Vicky, and great answer Ruby!
If you'd like a little more info, BBC Bitesize has a nice lesson on the Earth's structure and movement of the plates which you can find here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyhv4wx/revision/1
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@SanneAmberMaas It's amazing how efficient they are, isn't it? Some recent studies have actually said they are up to 30x as efficient as forest at C storage, so 10x might even be an underestimate.
The method is coming along... lots of stinky sediment samples still needing processed for carbon content!
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Perhaps prevailing winds had something to do with it?
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@SanneAmberMaas Very cool! Thank you for sharing more about this. We do mapping too, so interesting to hear how you did it :)
I look at the below-ground carbon store, or ‘blue carbon’. As you may already know, seagrass is a powerhouse when it comes to storing carbon in its sediments - up to 10x as efficient as Amazonian rainforest! But quantifying this...
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Stacey Felgate replied to Annette Powell
What a fab way of looking at things! 100% available for exploration.
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Stacey Felgate replied to laura mullens
A good observation, Laura!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Rachel Bryan
You’re totally correct Rachel, visiting or sampling one point in time tells us very little, tho sometimes it’s the best option given the resources required for a lot of ocean research.
Migration is a good example of when we might need to ‘explore’ the same area more than once. Can anyone think of other reasons you would want to sample or record data more...
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Being at sea for even a month does take its toll (tho it is a marvellous experience!) Even with the relative comfort of modern ships, so this would have been an extreme undertaking, you are right!
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A very good question! Now I’m intrigued too...
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The best part of studying the oceans is that there is always more to discover!
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It’s true that for oceanographers, it represents a pivotal moment. Many people do not know about it tho, so you’re not alone! What an amazing voyage to have been on! We have many artefacts from the voyage at the National Oceanography Centre which I always think makes us very lucky.
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Sounds like an amazing image! Thank you for describing it for us - I also find the scale of the ocean a little incomprehensible, but we’ve got a lesson in store to help with that coming up!
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Stacey Felgate made a comment
Hi everyone! It’s been wonderful reading of your introductions and comments so far - lots of really engaged learners excited to get started, which is fab! Thanks for sharing.
A bit more about me... well, I am studying for my PhD in Oceanography at the Uni of Southampton, where I’m working to improve our understanding of how human activities on land...
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Stacey Felgate replied to Antshan Elijah
It’s great that you are so excited Antshan - I think you’re going to get a lot out of this course! Welcome!
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Fab reasons to join the course Clara! Welcome :)
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Welcome to the course Sanne :) Your trip to Madagascar sounds amazing! Seagrass is one of my research species - would love to hear more about this.
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I love the enthusiasm John! Welcome to the course :)
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I’ve heard great things about diving at St Abbs! Welcome to the course, Ruth :)
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I know what you mean about the ocean feeling like home, Claire! I think you’re going to enjoy this course - lots that should interest you. Welcome!
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Stacey Felgate made a comment
Hi everyone, and welcome to Exploring Our Oceans :) Along with the other mentors, I'm here to answer any questions you may have during the course. Really looking forward to some great discussions in the comments section!
Remember to leave a comment introducing yourself - it’s so nice to hear who is with us and what brought them to the course.
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Stacey Felgate made a comment
Hello everyone! I’m also one of your mentors, and am really looking forward to working through the course with you and having some interesting discussions. I’m a biogeochemistry PhD working on understanding what happens to carbon as it moves from land down rivers and into the ocean, but also have interests in marine policy and pollution.
Please do ask...
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Hi Fati - when water evaporates, salt gets left behind (this is how we get salt pans), so the water that evaporated from the ocean and then falls down on land and goes into rivers isn’t ‘salty’ - it will pick up salts on land if it comes across them and transfer them to the ocean tho. Does that help?
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Stacey Felgate replied to Andy Elliott
I also wondered why Nessie was missed out ;)
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Welcome back!
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Hi Matthew - I’m not sure if Stephanie will be looking at the forum yet but I’ll pass the message on/see what I can find for you.
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It’s never too late dip that toe in the water ;) Welcome to the course!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Anna Gann
The great thing about the blog is that it’s always there so you can go back to it :)
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Stacey Felgate replied to Jayne Dobner
We are really looking forward to it too!
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Stacey Felgate made a comment
Hello everyone! :)
I’m another of your course mentors, and am here to help if anything is unclear or you have any questions at all.
My area of expertise is in marine biogeochemistry, and my PhD looks at what happens to organic matter as it moves out of trrrestrial souls and down rivers into the coastal ocean. I’m also interested in something called...
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I love that you are taking action Elaine!
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Stacey Felgate replied to BRIAN E. RUSH
Thanks Richard!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Marcia Ostrowski
Hi Veronica - excellent question! The short answer is, yes. Anything solid could reflect the sonar pings, tho how big that solid thing has to be to register on the display dependant on the specifics of the sonar set up being used.
This link about sonar in fishing might help you visualise it: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KTacpPjjWiU
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Stacey Felgate replied to BRIAN E. RUSH
If you find any other good links in your travels let us know, Brian! Great that you are so enthusiastic - it's exciting isn't it!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Patricia Forsyth
Deep mine salt is a geological rather than chemical/physical process - more info on next page :)
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Stacey Felgate replied to Emma Watts
I was at sea with a wonderful scientist called Winnie who made this short film about her work, searching for microplastics in the deep sea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yegVaVjFMRs
You can also see some footage of how the samples were collected using the big rig on the back of RRS Discovery - worth a watch!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Carol Schmitt
Hi Carol - I've seen bioluminescent algae often at the beaches in MA, so if you're ever on the East Coast in late summer, have a look!
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Hi Elaine, great question!
Senior researchers sometimes don't get in the lab as much as they would like, mostly because they are the ones who write the big grant applications and project proposals which their research assistants and students actually undertake, but there isn't a hierarchy when it comes to certain tasks being for certain career stages. Once...
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Haha! It's not quite that exciting I'm afraid. There is a great article here which explains the process: https://www.theguardian.com/science/lost-worlds/2013/jun/21/dinosaurs-fossils
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-11-16/humpback-whales-navy-sonar-hearing-loss/9149398 - A very recent report on this - efforts are being made but how effective they are is unclear
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Stacey Felgate made a comment
An article in the news today about whales and noise - always interesting to see this stuff covered in the media: http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/endangered-whales-not-impressed-by-sonar-ramp-up-1-4615659
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Stacey Felgate made a comment
I'm loving reading about how you all visualise this - it's a bit mind-blowing, isn't it?
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Hi Glenda - think about the % of the earth covered in land vs. ocean, and also the fact that salts are soluble - the process of weathering plays a part here, carrying salts to the ocean..
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It's great that you're thinking about it as you go tho - even if you find the answer later, one of the most important parts of learning is coming up with questions!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Brendan Murphy
Hi Brendan,
The red sea has an average salinity of around 40 compared to a global average of around 35, which is enough of a difference to be really noticeable when you come into contact with it.
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Stacey Felgate replied to Maggie Grigg
Hi Maggie,
Yes - you're right. The Med does have tides, like any large body of water, but because it is nearly land locked and has only a small opening, the tidal range is slight. It's there, but its less pronounced than elsewhere.
Have you noticed this when you've been there or read about it?
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Stacey Felgate replied to Ekemini akpan
Hi Ekemini - great question!
This page has a great description of each one, along with real world examples of when you might encounter them - give it a read and let us know if you still have questions:
http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-news/currents-waves-and-tides-ocean-motion
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Hi G M
I'm afraid I'm not 100% sure of your question (my lacking physics knowledge, excuse me!) but maybe this will help?
First, understand that in a straight line, momentum relates to mass and velocity:
Linear momentum = mass x linear velocity
Second, angular momentum has a rotational dimension which relies upon the distance of the point from an...
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An excellent learning technique! I'm very visual and do this kind of thing every day - so effective!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Annie Masson
Hi Annie,
Organisms without a gas space (like a swim bladder) tend to cope with pressure changes in the ocean quite well. Marine zooplankton, like copepods, can travel up to 1000m depth in a daily cycle and can regulate internal pressure differences by controlling the amount of water they take into their gut - it's very clever! Their metabolic processes may...
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Hi David - the ship made port often and spend more than half her time docked, so supplies would have been replenished using whatever was available.
As for measuring depth, a description is given here: https://superbeefy.com/how-did-scientists-on-the-challenger-expedition-measure-ocean-depth-and-gather-ocean-floor-samples/
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Thanks for the book recommendation Brendan - shall give it a look!
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Stacey Felgate made a comment
I've been looking at your posts when I feel like my work day needs a little pick me up and can tell you all they have been inspiring others in my office too - great work everyone!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Claire Bradley
How did you get on contacting indigo, Claire? I have another link for you - this time a page full of citizen science projects you can get involved in.
Let us know how you get on! Super interesting.
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Stacey Felgate replied to Brendan Murphy
Hi Brendan - there are a lot of benefits to mapping the sea floor, for industry and governments alike. Funding comes from a whole host of places.
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Stacey Felgate replied to Marcia Ostrowski
HI Marcia - As far as I'm aware, the research shows that sonar does not actively harm marine mammals, but it can alter their behaviour temporarily.
For instance, military research has shown that whales don't feed or dive when sonar is being used nearby. It's not clear cut tho - more research is going on all the time to understand what frequencies, what...
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Hi Leo - yes, we cover some of the issues of conservation and industrial use of the oceans in week 4.
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You should check out the Exploring Our Oceans Blog! One of the other mentors, Nina, wrote about SCUBA diving last week and there are some great photos :)
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Stacey Felgate replied to [Learner left FutureLearn]
Hello Charles - great that you are getting others involved and enjoying the course so far!
In Week 4 we will be looking at human impacts on the ocean (including deep sea mining and plastics pollution) and touching on who has responsibility for the oceans from a legal perspective, and the extra reading materials are fab.
In the meantime, if you want to...
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Stacey Felgate replied to Patricia Forsyth
It's funny what we remember from class, isn't it! Osmosis is where water moves in and out of the cell, which helps regulate hydration and salt concentration, amongst other things.
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Stacey Felgate replied to Lee Scott
I find this terribly exciting too, Lee! When I first found out about it, I remember feeling like everything I knew about life had been flipped upside down. Marvellous!
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The first episode was amazing, wasn't it?
Glad you could join us, Liz!
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Stacey Felgate replied to Claire Bradley
Hi Claire - great to hear you're enthusiastic about helping gather data!
I'm not aware of any projects which do this I'm afraid. My hunch is, the equipment is quite expensive and needs maintenance which doesn't lend it to this kind of deployment, but I'm constantly surprised by how quickly things are advancing so it could just be a matter of time! I'm no...
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Stacey Felgate replied to amjed osman
Hello Amjed :) Have you got any ideas of what area you want to work in? It's really interesting to hear from students in other disciplines working on the ocean too.
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Stacey Felgate replied to Lee Scott
I should mention, in the very, very deep waters, (beyond the twilight and midnight zones, into the Abyss) eyes do get smaller again, some to the point of being redundant, but bioluminescence becomes less common at this depth too.
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Stacey Felgate replied to Lee Scott
Hi Lee - great question!
The most common use of bioluminescence in deep sea creatures is actually to lure and detect prey - think of Angler fish whose bright lure fools smaller fish who swim up thinking it might be something small and edible, only to end up in close proximity to the Angler's huge jaws (themselves a deep sea adaptation). Also the cookie...
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Stacey Felgate made a comment
Hi everyone! I’m a PhD student and one of your course facilitators.
I’m really looking forward to working through the course with you all, and hopefully learning some things too!
You can find me on Twitter @staceyfelgate and I’ll be contributing to the blog as we go and helping to answering any questions that pop up.
