Joining thousands of students all along the Hudson River, BNS fourth grade ecologists studied the quality of this mighty river. Nearly 110 students visited Valentino Pier with the help of parent chaperones, a hardworking team of student teachers, and of course, BNS teachers. Special thanks goes to Christine O'Neill who traveled hours to get to Brooklyn. And to our DITL runner, Sarah Mount of NYSDEC.
There were four stations: Station One run by Eva and Kiana had students testing the chemistry of the water: temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH as well as its turbidity, and salinity. pH was a neutral 7 and the DO was in a healthy range of 5 ppm to 8 ppm. Salinity averaged a brackish 27 ppt. Turbidity: 40 JTUs.
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The second station: measuring the biodiversity of the river. Christine O'Neill, Student Conservation Member who is in the Hudson Valley Corps.
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These green crabs were found at the bottom of a bucket camouflaged and waiting for us! There is no scientific proof, but Science Lesson Magic strikes again.
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| Christine O'Neill helps students ID crabs and the silverside fish caught in our seining nets. |
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| Sarah Mount, of NYSDEC, was on hand to help students as well. |
The third station involved determining the current direction using light green flowers as well as the wind current and direction using the Beaufort Scale. Robert Pincus, chaperone and climate scientist, tied streamers to poles to help us see the variation in winds between the poles.
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This station was run by student teachers Rachel and Molly. Northwest current and wind. Wind speed varied from a gentle to moderate breeze.
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| An amazing cloud ID'ed by Robert as an Asperitas Cloud--uncommon and not well understood! |
The last station had students "take a snaphot" of the river using pencil and paper.
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