Students and Teachers Investigate Marine Concepts-Under Sail

Marine and geoscience majors from the University of the District of Columbia study estuarine processes in the Chesapeake Bay aboard a privately-owned 27-foot fiberglass sloop. Within roughly the 6-hour duration of half of a tidal cycle each student makes observations and collects data on basic oceanographic processes. Teams rotate through investigations so that after all stations they have collected all parameters and utilized each piece of equipment. After the trip the students each plot their data on profiles constructed from the local bathymetric charts. Samples are taken back to school for analysis and compared to previous trips. These trips cost the University nothing, and the students bring their pre-planned lunch and drinks. The field equipment is brought from the school. Students are encouraged to construct and test their own equipment. A workable on-board plan allows for a safe and unencumbered movement of up to 13 persons. Considering the thousands of vessels sailing our waterways and the number of land-lubber students in coastal urban universities, a cooperative effort would be of great mutual benefit.