Cherry Jia
Source: DOGO News
Author: Meera Dolasia
Date of Publication: October 18, 2014
Summary: To study the effects of sea creature movement in water, John Dabiri and Monica Wilhelmus from California Institute of Technology conducted an experiment in their laboratory. They shone a beam of light through a tank filled with thousands of sea monkeys, which were attracted to light. As the sea monkeys followed the beam to the top, they created ripples that moved the tank waters. Dabiri concluded that the billions of zooplankton migrating each day added as much as a trillion watts of power to drive ocean circulation. Christian Noss, an environmental biologist, challenged Dabiri with conflicting results. Using stratified water, which is a closer representation of the condition at open seas, there was less of a mixing effect produced by these animals. Further research into this theory may help scientists model climate change more accurately since one fourth of the carbon dioxide humans give off are absorbed by the ocean.
Sea monkeys swimming towards light
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WT0z3YI6aA
Connection: This article demonstrates how through applying the scientific method, scientists can come to ecological conclusions. After initial observation, Dabiri asks the question of how sea creature movement affects water movement. Dabiri hypothesizes that these movements drive ocean currents. He then tests this hypothesis by setting up a controlled experiment with sea monkeys and a beam of light and generated conclusions based off his results. Furthermore, his conclusion connects to the idea that all scientific theories must be repeatable by peers due to the skeptical nature of science. Overall, through research into surface circulation and deep circulation, the conclusions through this and future studies connect to the carbon cycle since oceans absorb a large amount of carbon dioxide. Therefore, with more understanding about the ocean and what effects it, we learn more about the carbon cycle and how to control it.
Source: DOGO News
Author: Meera Dolasia
Date of Publication: October 18, 2014
Summary: To study the effects of sea creature movement in water, John Dabiri and Monica Wilhelmus from California Institute of Technology conducted an experiment in their laboratory. They shone a beam of light through a tank filled with thousands of sea monkeys, which were attracted to light. As the sea monkeys followed the beam to the top, they created ripples that moved the tank waters. Dabiri concluded that the billions of zooplankton migrating each day added as much as a trillion watts of power to drive ocean circulation. Christian Noss, an environmental biologist, challenged Dabiri with conflicting results. Using stratified water, which is a closer representation of the condition at open seas, there was less of a mixing effect produced by these animals. Further research into this theory may help scientists model climate change more accurately since one fourth of the carbon dioxide humans give off are absorbed by the ocean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WT0z3YI6aA
Connection: This article demonstrates how through applying the scientific method, scientists can come to ecological conclusions. After initial observation, Dabiri asks the question of how sea creature movement affects water movement. Dabiri hypothesizes that these movements drive ocean currents. He then tests this hypothesis by setting up a controlled experiment with sea monkeys and a beam of light and generated conclusions based off his results. Furthermore, his conclusion connects to the idea that all scientific theories must be repeatable by peers due to the skeptical nature of science. Overall, through research into surface circulation and deep circulation, the conclusions through this and future studies connect to the carbon cycle since oceans absorb a large amount of carbon dioxide. Therefore, with more understanding about the ocean and what effects it, we learn more about the carbon cycle and how to control it.
How are sea monkeys connected to climate change?
ReplyDeleteCan larger sea creatures also be big drivers of ocean currents as zooplankton are, since they are larger ?
ReplyDelete@Leah Mills
ReplyDelete"How are sea monkeys connected to climate change?"
If Dabiri’s theory is correct that sea monkeys drive the movement of nutrients and heat throughout the world’s oceans, then that would mean schools of large fish and ocean mammals would have a large impact too. Because of water’s unique properties, it absorbs lots of heat that are given off in specific regions. If marine species are wiped out, then that would impact the vast amounts of heat moved across the planet by ocean currents. So, if ocean currents are changed, then that would impact climate change too.
Source: http://oceanleadership.org/scientists-use-sea-monkeys-lasers-show-tiny-organisms-help-drive-ocean-currents/
@Aisling Koh
ReplyDelete"Can larger sea creatures also be big drivers of ocean currents as zooplankton are, since they are larger?"
Yes, however, one main reason why zooplankton are believed to be so effective at moving currents is because of the their large population. So even if there are larger sea creatures, the smaller population size would counterbalance their size.