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CMG Coral Reef Studies Featured in Moloka'i's Newspaper
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March 2000 |
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CMG scientists conducting field studies of coral reefs off the island
of Moloka'i in the Hawaiian Islands have caught the attention of the
local press. Read all about it in the two following articles, reprinted
with permission from The Dispatch, The Newspaper of Molokai.
Moloka'i Reef Survey by USGS—Part 1
by Gerry Anderson
(Reprinted with permission, from the January 27, 2000 issue of
The Dispatch)
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Project head Andrea Ogston and the reef instrument package.
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No! The object in the ocean on the reef off of Hotel Moloka'i is not
a UFO that landed with aliens intent on taking over the island and
the world. The object is a 150-pound instrument package and is part
of a project directed by Dr. Andrea Ogston of the U.S. Geological
Survey aimed at gathering data on the reef off the south coast of
Moloka'i as part of a study of this important resource. The overall
goal of the research project is to attempt to understand the things
that affect the reef, including ocean conditions and runoff from storms.
In an interview with The Dispatch last week, she described the package
and how it will be used. It is designed to be installed in shallow
water with the measuring instruments under the water and the support
equipment (computer and batteries) above the water, with four
prominent orange flags that will allow boaters and fishermen to spot
the package and keep well clear. The various sensors are attached on
the legs and will measure currents, wave and tide heights, salinity
and temperature, and suspended sediment in the water. All the data
will be recorded once every hour and on a hard disk located on the
top of the package out of the water. Initially the USGS team will go
out to the package at periodic intervals and download the data. Later
the entire package will be brought back to shore for downloading of
data.
This photo, taken by Gerry Anderson after the January 27
article was published, shows Andrea's instrument
package in the water.
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Because this is an experimental device, Ogston was unsure how long
it would last. The battery is designed to last for months, but the
limiting factor may be biological fouling of the instruments. It is
hoped that sometime during its deployment, there will be a significant
rainstorm that produces runoff from the land so that the effects of
the runoff in terms of suspended sediment can be measured. While this
deployed package is important for gathering data on the reef, it is
just a part of the overall study. Mapping of the reef has also started
using an airborne laser device (sic).
The USGS team emphasized that the reef off the south shore of Moloka'i
is one of the best in the Hawaiian Islands and that it is very important
that we understand the things affecting the reef so that we can take
action to avoid damaging it. So when you see the four orange flags
sticking out of the water off of Hotel Moloka'i, stay clear, and remember,
the information gathered by the instruments under the flags will help
us conserve this valuable resource.
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March 2000
in this issue:
cover story:
Moloka'i Coral Reef Study Pt. 1
Moloka'i Coral Reef Study Pt. 2
Massachusetts Bay Cruise
Two New Web Sites
Sandwich High School
English & Metric Units
Tsunami Workshop
NOAA/USGS Benthic Habitat Initiative
Sustainable Seas
USGS/Geological Survey of Canada
MARGINS
Science Education Partnership
GD Safety
Thomas Jefferson Medal
CMG "Youngster" Wins Science Award
Winning Photo
Senate Commendation
Presentations
BRD in St. Pete
Woods Hole Community Activities
Dillon & Winters on BBC Radio
March Publications List
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U. S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
