getting to the hudson without leaving the classroom
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given by Steve Stanne, NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program. For activities and lesson plans developed by the Estuary Program, visit www.TeachingtheHudsonValley.org.TRANSCRIPT
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Getting to Hudson WithoutLeaving the Classroom
Steve Stanne, Hudson River Estuary ProgramTeaching the Hudson Valley 2009 Summer Institute
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
1. Up to the minute information on specific parameters
Remote sensingUsing the web to read the river from a distance
Checking water temperature at Piermont on Friday, July 31, 2009, at 4:30 PM; it’s about 80.5 degrees F.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
2. Observe patterns/cycles
Remote sensing Using the web to read the river from a distance
High and low tides at the George Washington Bridge; Tuesday, July 28, 2009 through Thursday, July 30, 2009
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Remote sensingUsing the web to read the river from a distance
3. Show relationships between parameters or cycles
High and low tides versus salinity at the George Washington Bridge; Tuesday, July 28, 2009 through Thursday, July 30, 2009
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
4. Collects data during short-term events or in inclement conditions when scientists may not be able to collect samples
Remote sensing Using the web to read the river from a distance
Turbidity (muddiness) of the water at Schodack Island following heavy rains in early July, 2009
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
5. Create line graphs with website interfaces or download data to further customize graphs
Remote sensing Using the web to read the river from a distance
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
http://ny.water.usgs.gov/projects/dialer_plots/saltfront.html
Map and table show salt front location
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
http://ny.water.usgs.gov/projects/dialer_plots/saltfront.html
Sensor stations at Albany, Poughkeepsie, West Point, & Hastings (latter two will be discontinued in September)
Choose real time info updated every 15 min. or daily maximum & minimum readings
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
http://ny.water.usgs.gov/projects/dialer_plots/saltfront.html
Links to sensorson tributaries
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Use the graphs to tell stories, pose questions, solve mysteries.Are the events shown in these graphs related? How?*
* See end of show for answers.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
http://www.hrecos.org/joomla/
HRECOS Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
HRECOS Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System
Sensors at:
Schodack I. (Rensselaer Co.)
Tivoli Bays (Dutchess Co.)
Norrie Point (Dutchess Co.)
Piermont (Rockland Co.)
George Washington Bridge
Castle Point (Hoboken, NJ)
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
HRECOS Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System
To view data, select Current Conditions
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Use dropdown menus to choose station, parameter, etc. Current conditions come up; use Start Date/End Date or Set Start/Set End to choose other time periods (within limits - click on ? for more details)
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Site does not now enable display of more than one graph at a time. Use your browser to open the HRECOS site in two windows, then manipulate window size to compare two graphs at once, or use screen shots.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
HRECOS Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System
Use the graphs to tell stories, pose questions, solve mysteries.*
What causes brief spikes in turbidity at Schodack Island? Hint: the river here is a narrow shipping channel.
Why do dissolved oxygen levels rise during the day and fall at night?
* See end of show for answers.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
To learn about ecological stories that can be told using HRECOS data, select HRECOS Stories.
HRECOS Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Bird WebcamsAvailable during the spring nesting season
New York Harbor herons rookeryhttp://www.nycaudubon.org/projects/harborherons/WebCam
/
Peregrine falcon nestshttp://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7701.html
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
http://www.riverproject.org/research_11piers_info.php
Underwater Video from the River Project, NYC
http://www.riverproject.org/research_12batteryparkvideo_butterfly.php
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Hudson River Almanac
Free natural history journal, emailed weekly
1/11/04 - Sprout Brook, HRM 43.5: At first light we fished, chilled to the bone, on five inches of black flint ice. On the bare branches of a nearby shaggy white pine were nine black vultures, all perched in a row in their night roost, watching us, looking like a convention of undertakers. The air temperature was +1°F. Not a good morning to be a vulture. If they had any sense they'd be in Virginia looking for roadkill. - Tom Lake, Christopher Letts
For subscription information and to review back issues, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/25608.html
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
For more information, contact
Steve Stanne, Interpretive SpecialistNYSDEC – Hudson River Estuary Program21 South Putt Corners RoadNew Paltz, NY 12561845 [email protected]
Hudson River Estuary Programeducation website www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5102.html
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
AnswersSlide 10Heavy rains caused high flows starting late on 7/29/09 in the Mohawk River, the largest tributary of the Hudson. These flows reached the Hudson shortly afterwards. At Albany, the rise and fall of the tides is superimposed on higher base flows starting 7/30/09. Low tide levels are about 2 feet higher than they were prior to the rain and resulting runoff. The runoff also cooled the Hudson, dropping the water temperature at Albany about 3 oC.
Slide 16Turbidity spikes at Schodack are caused by ships and tugboats passing on their way to and from the Port of Albany.Photosynthesis by aquatic plants and phytoplankton produces oxygen while sunlight is available during the day. At night, plants and phytoplankton cease photosynthesis and their respiration uses up oxygen.