Journals 2006/2007

Miriam Sutton
Newport Middle School, Newport, NC

"Study of the seafloor and shallow subseafloor off the Labrador Shelf and Slope" Canadian Coast Guard Ship Hudson (CCGS Hudson) August 5 - September 1, 2006

Journal Index: August 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12          13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19          20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26          27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 September 1 Additional Resources

August 26, 2006
The Cores Have Gas

AM Location: Saglek Bank (57° 29' 21.61" N, 59° 26' 03.04" W)
PM Location: Nain Bank (57° 33' 41.95" N, 58° 08' 39.54" W)
Sea Temperature: 7.0° C
Air Temperature: 6.5° C
Hydrospheric Conditions: Calm seas and gentle swells returned overnight and lasted throughout the day and night
Atmospheric Conditions: Mostly cloudy skies at sunrise gave way to a beautifully sunny day on the Labrador Sea before the clouds returned at sunset
Wind Speed/Direction: 15 knots/NW dissipated to 10 knots/W

While I was visiting the thousand-year old mud in the Core Storage Bin yesterday, I noticed several of the cores had large gaps throughout the core sample. Some of the cores were even bulging at the top from so much pressure inside the sample. I questioned the scientists about the "expanding" samples to learn why some cores expanded and others did not.

Some of the samples contained in the storage bin were collected on the previous research cruise from a Placentia Bay region near shore to Newfoundland rather than far out to sea like the ones collected this month. Sediments closer to shore tend to contain more organic matter than sediments further out to sea. The organic matter deposited within the sediment comes from the decay and run-off of biological matter. (See Core Sample photo below.)

Cores on left and middle from near shore; Core on right from offshore (Photo: Miriam Sutton)

As the organic matter begins to breakdown, or decomposes, gas is released. The cores are sealed for storage so the gas has no way of escaping when it begins to expand. As the gas molecules expand, the sediment is compressed closer together resulting in spaces within the core sample.

Today's Activity: Place a balloon over the mouth of a plastic soda bottle filled with carbonated soda. Be sure you have a tight seal between the balloon and the bottle. Place the bottle outside in the sun for a few hours and observe the changes in the balloon. Describe to a friend what caused the changes in the balloon as the soda began to get hotter.

Word of the Day: Decompose

REMINDER: Record today's Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and the Air Temperature on the data table you created from the August 05 journal entry.