Sims, David

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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices12-19-2006New Exhibit Provides Unique View Of Gulf OfMaine EcosystemDavid SimsFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationSims, David, "New Exhibit Provides Unique View Of Gulf Of Maine Ecosystem" (2006). UNH Today. 1289.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/12899/20/17, 1)57 PMNew Exhibit Provides Unique View of Gulf of Maine EcosystemPage 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2006/dec/ds19sea.cfm.html New Exhibit Provides Unique View Of Gulf Of MaineEcosystemContact:  David Sims 603-862-5369Science WriterInstitute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and SpaceDecember 19, 2006DURHAM, N.H. -- A new exhibit at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye provides an opportunityto peer into the depths of the complex marine ecosystem of the Gulf of Maine like a scientistand learn about the underwater web of life that ebbs and flows through the twelve months ofthe year.“Seasons of the Sea” is a hands-on display created through collaboration between Universityof New Hampshire marine scientists and Seacoast Science Center staff using NASA and Gulf ofMaine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS) data sources. The exhibit uses current scientificdata from ocean observing tools like high-tech buoys and satellites to illustrate the yearlonginner workings of the Gulf of Maine’s unique character.For example, two buoys, one in the coastal zone and one far offshore in deep waters, sendlive data to a six-foot buoy display. Viewers can compare data from the two buoys – watertemperature and salinity levels at the surface and deep below, wind speed and airtemperature, current speed and direction – and put in updated information on dials thataccompany the display.Graphic, informational kiosks provide details on each of the underwater seasons, and largefloor maps of the Gulf of Maine orient viewers and show where the dozen science andmeteorological buoys that pepper the waters are located.“Seasons of the Sea illustrates some of the high-level efforts of scientists who are seeking tounderstand this ecosystem,” says Amy Cline, education and outreach coordinator for the UNHCoastal Observing Center. Cline adds, “We hope this will help viewers better understand andappreciate this critically important part of our environment.”Cline notes that the new exhibit is a one-of-a-kind display of modern ocean observingmethodology, an approach marine scientists commonly refer to as involving “buoys, boats,and satellites.”Today’s scientific buoys – like the two GoMOOS buoys sending data directly back to theSeasons of the Sea exhibit – are sophisticated sentinels that provide scientists with a widearray of data. In addition to meteorological measurements, buoys can monitor levels ofsalinity, chlorophyll concentration, the amount of sunlight available to underwater plants, andmany other environmental parameters.9/20/17, 1)57 PMNew Exhibit Provides Unique View of Gulf of Maine EcosystemPage 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2006/dec/ds19sea.cfm.htmlEarth-orbiting satellites provide a host of both big-picture and small-scale data, includingchlorophyll concentrations and the related blooms of phytoplankton – the miniscule plant lifethat shifts with the seasons and upon which the vast majority of ocean ecosystems depend.Notes Cline, “Phytoplankton are the basis of everything. They’re at the lowest trophic level onthe food chain and are responsible for everything from whales to the fish on your plate.” Thus,scientists must understand the “lowly” phytoplankton if they are to understand how oceanecosystems work, and help humanity protect and manage the 70 percent of our planet thatstudies have recently identified as being in deep trouble.In addition to giving people insight into how scientific ocean observing is done and what datait can provide, it is hoped that Seasons of the Sea will illustrate the fact that it will be up tofuture generations of scientists to fill in the blanks of our understanding of the sea.Says Cline, “I believe there’s a general misconception with students, and it could be the samewith much of the public, that we know everything about the oceans, but there are manyfundamental questions that we don’t have answers to.”The exhibit was funded through NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) grant money, and was initiated by UNH oceanographer Ru Morrison of the Institute forthe Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space.The Seacoast Science Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday-Monday and willbe open Tuesday-Friday, December 26-29 for the holiday break. To learn more, call the Centerat 603-436-8043 or visit www.seacoastsciencecenter.org.Editors: A photograph is available to download here:http://unh.edu/news/img/SeasonsSea.jpgCaption: Seasons of the Sea, a new exhibit at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, N.H.,provides students of all ages with a unique view of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem.Photo courtesy of the Seacoast Science Center.

New Exhibit Provides Unique View Of Gulf Of Maine Ecosystem

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Media Relations Administrative Offices
12-19-2006
New Exhibit Provides Unique View Of Gulf Of
Maine Ecosystem
David Sims
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/news
This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Sims, David, "New Exhibit Provides Unique View Of Gulf Of Maine Ecosystem" (2006). UNH Today. 1289.
https://scholars.unh.edu/news/1289
9/20/17, 1)57 PMNew Exhibit Provides Unique View of Gulf of Maine Ecosystem
Page 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2006/dec/ds19sea.cfm.html
 
New Exhibit Provides Unique View Of Gulf Of Maine
Ecosystem
Contact:  David Sims 
603-862-5369
Science Writer
Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space
December 19, 2006
DURHAM, N.H. -- A new exhibit at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye provides an opportunity
to peer into the depths of the complex marine ecosystem of the Gulf of Maine like a scientist
and learn about the underwater web of life that ebbs and flows through the twelve months of
the year.
“Seasons of the Sea” is a hands-on display created through collaboration between University
of New Hampshire marine scientists and Seacoast Science Center staff using NASA and Gulf of
Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS) data sources. The exhibit uses current scientific
data from ocean observing tools like high-tech buoys and satellites to illustrate the yearlong
inner workings of the Gulf of Maine’s unique character.
For example, two buoys, one in the coastal zone and one far offshore in deep waters, send
live data to a six-foot buoy display. Viewers can compare data from the two buoys – water
temperature and salinity levels at the surface and deep below, wind speed and air
temperature, current speed and direction – and put in updated information on dials that
accompany the display.
Graphic, informational kiosks provide details on each of the underwater seasons, and large
floor maps of the Gulf of Maine orient viewers and show where the dozen science and
meteorological buoys that pepper the waters are located.
“Seasons of the Sea illustrates some of the high-level efforts of scientists who are seeking to
understand this ecosystem,” says Amy Cline, education and outreach coordinator for the UNH
Coastal Observing Center. Cline adds, “We hope this will help viewers better understand and
appreciate this critically important part of our environment.”
Cline notes that the new exhibit is a one-of-a-kind display of modern ocean observing
methodology, an approach marine scientists commonly refer to as involving “buoys, boats,
and satellites.”
Today’s scientific buoys – like the two GoMOOS buoys sending data directly back to the
Seasons of the Sea exhibit – are sophisticated sentinels that provide scientists with a wide
array of data. In addition to meteorological measurements, buoys can monitor levels of
salinity, chlorophyll concentration, the amount of sunlight available to underwater plants, and
many other environmental parameters.
9/20/17, 1)57 PMNew Exhibit Provides Unique View of Gulf of Maine Ecosystem
Page 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2006/dec/ds19sea.cfm.html
Earth-orbiting satellites provide a host of both big-picture and small-scale data, including
chlorophyll concentrations and the related blooms of phytoplankton – the miniscule plant life
that shifts with the seasons and upon which the vast majority of ocean ecosystems depend.
Notes Cline, “Phytoplankton are the basis of everything. They’re at the lowest trophic level on
the food chain and are responsible for everything from whales to the fish on your plate.” Thus,
scientists must understand the “lowly” phytoplankton if they are to understand how ocean
ecosystems work, and help humanity protect and manage the 70 percent of our planet that
studies have recently identified as being in deep trouble.
In addition to giving people insight into how scientific ocean observing is done and what data
it can provide, it is hoped that Seasons of the Sea will illustrate the fact that it will be up to
future generations of scientists to fill in the blanks of our understanding of the sea.
Says Cline, “I believe there’s a general misconception with students, and it could be the same
with much of the public, that we know everything about the oceans, but there are many
fundamental questions that we don’t have answers to.”
The exhibit was funded through NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) grant money, and was initiated by UNH oceanographer Ru Morrison of the Institute for
the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space.
The Seacoast Science Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday-Monday and will
be open Tuesday-Friday, December 26-29 for the holiday break. To learn more, call the Center
at 603-436-8043 or visit www.seacoastsciencecenter.org.
Editors: A photograph is available to download here:
http://unh.edu/news/img/SeasonsSea.jpg
Caption: Seasons of the Sea, a new exhibit at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, N.H.,
provides students of all ages with a unique view of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem.
Photo courtesy of the Seacoast Science Center.


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New Exhibit Provides Unique View Of Gulf Of Maine Ecosystem

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