Whether you live near the ocean or far from the shore, you are affected
by the ocean and the decisions made regarding it. Each year, the
cry gets louder and more articulate to conserve our resources and
protect endangered species. It seems that the number and severity
of storms is increasing. Harmful algal blooms and fish kills also
seem to be increasing in frequency. How can we make sense of these
trends and what more do we need to know before the next set of storms
damages our coasts? Whether you are trying to manage the marine
ecosystem sustainability or you are teaching students to be environmental
stewards, long-term real-time oceanographic data will help you by
answering real world questions about our coastal ocean.
From a manager’s perspective, having access to and understanding
ocean observing data could influence how best to protect submerged
underwater habitat essential for juvenile fish. From a teacher’s
perspective, ocean observing data could be just the thing that gets
students excited about learning. Scientists do not have all the
answers, and students are ready for a genuine challenge. Long-term
data sets served on the Internet and presented in a real-world scenario
provide a perfect opportunity for students to develop their critical
thinking skills while learning science.
