EstuaryLive! 2009

EstuaryLive is an annual "virtual field trip" hosted by NOAA and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. This year, students will visit four estuaries around the country via online live broadcasts. From left: Hudson River Reserve, New York; Weeks Bay Reserve, Alabama; South Slough Reserve, Oregon; and Padilla Bay Reserve, Washington.

Thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students will join scientists in the marshes and bays of four estuaries in May to learn about the impacts of climate change on the nation's coasts—and they won't even get wet.

EstuaryLive is a virtual field trip hosted by NOAA and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System that enables students in their classrooms to interact with scientists in the field to learn about the animals and physical dynamics of estuaries.

Estuaries are critical ecosystems where rivers meet the sea. These transitional areas straddle the land and the sea, as well as freshwater and saltwater habitats.

The educational program connects students and teachers with scientists and educators on location at various National Estuarine Research Reserves around the country.

This year's Webcast will consist of two 30-minute segments from each of three reserves on May 1, and from Weeks Bay Reserve in Alabama on May 15. The three reserves in the first Webcast will be Hudson River Reserve in New York, South Slough Reserve in Oregon, and Padilla Bay Reserve in Washington.

Scientists at each location will explain various facts about estuaries, ranging from the animals and plants that live there to the physical dynamics of tides and rivers. They will also discuss the observed and anticipated impacts of climate change such as rising sea level and warming water temperatures.

During each event, students will have the opportunity to E-mail questions to the scientists. Those questions which cannot be answered on the air will be answered by E-mail. Videos of each event will be archived on the Web for later viewing. Archived EstuaryLive programs from 2001-2008 are also available at Estuaries.gov.

EstuaryLive is part of the NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System's online educational presence, which includes complete classroom curricula, videos, quizzes, an educational game, and various other resources for students and teachers.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 27 reserves in 21 states and Puerto Rico protecting more than 1.3 million acres of coastal and estuarine areas for research, education, and stewardship in support of coastal management.