Tegan’s Science Notes

Throughout the voyage, Tegan Mortimer, a scientist with Earthwatch Institute, has been providing us wonderful science “notes” in support of wherever Dave is in the world, and in whatever he is encountering. 

Tegan has also assisted the BDX project by coordinating our Citizen Science Resource Page.

Here are all ten of Tegan’s Science Notes! Check them out!

:: Tegan’s “Science Notes” – posted to Bodacious Dream Expeditions

#1 – Bird Migrations – (11.08.13) Remember the mystery of the yellow-rumped warbler 200 miles of the New Jersey Coast? Well, following from that, Tegan’s first report here is on Bird Migrations … and it’s just full of interesting facts!

#2 – Wind and Weather – (12.12.13)  Here you will find an incredible and concise introduction to all the major concepts that underlie Earth’s amazing cycles of wind currents and weather patterns,  temperature shifts, high and low pressure areas defined for you and younger learners … and much more!

#3 – Sea Turtle Rescue – (1.17.14) Every autumn, hundreds of sea turtles get trapped in suddenly colder ocean waters off Cape Cod. Tegan along with volunteers from the New England Aquarium comb the beaches after high tides to rescue these turtles, some of which are already bordering on extinction

#4 – Whale Strandings – (2.6.14) Just prior to Dave reaching New Zealand’s Farewell Spit and the entrance to Cook’s Strait for the passage over to Wellington, Teagan updates us on a large and mysterious mass whale stranding that occurred last month right there at Farewell Spit.

#5 – Penguins in Africa? – (3.12.14) Following Dave’s visit in Cape Town to cavort with the penguins, Tegan tells us about penguins … how they are only found in the Southern Hemisphere and why they have been able to survive on the coastline of South Africa.

#6 – Seabirds – (4.02.14)  Tegan focuses in on the birds that Dave sighted on Legs 1 and 2 of the circumnavigation, at the same time, she provides us a great view into the larger world of seabirds, their place in the biosphere as well as the many challenges they face in their struggle to survive.

#7 – Bioluminescense – (4.16.14) Following from Dave’s encounter with bioluminescence one night on the Southern Ocean, at the start of Leg 2, Tegan does some research on the subject and report back on the science behind this incredible phenomenon.

#8 – Glaciers – (4.24.14) After Dave’s major excursion to Fox Glacier during his stay in New Zealand, Tegan’s takes us on a journey into the science of glaciers, how they have shaped our world and what critical role they will play in our future.

#9 – The Galapagos Islands – (5.13.14) Following Dave’s exploration of the Galapagos Islands, Tegan offers ssome exciting insights into this unique bio-region and its wildlife.

#10 – Protecting Marine Diversity (5.30.14)  As Dave rounds Cuba on his way back into the Gulf Stream, Tegan explores a number of scientific research efforts intended to protect tropical marine diversity around threatened coral reefs and ocean sea life.

#11 – Voyages of Discovery  (6.13.14)  With Dave in New England waters and one day away from the end of his circumnavigation, Tegan looks back at the brief history of ocean-crossing voyages of exploration, mapmaking and navigation technologies, the rise of evolutionary science, and how the internet has opened the new door of citizen science and the important role it can play in the future of scientific discovery.

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