2. Discovering the Living Sea from the Air: NASA Airborne Research Dr. John Ryan, Ocean Researcher Documented By Sherry Davis, NASA/AREE Teacher Participant

3. NASA Airborne Missions The National Air and Space Administration has many science objectives other than the space program. NASA is a major research agency assisting in the study of our global environment. NASA partners with scientists to find answers to many environmental problems. The National Air and Space Administration has many science objectives other than the space program. NASA is a major research agency assisting in the study of our global environment. NASA partners with scientists to find answers to many environmental problems.

4. Meet Dr. John Ryan Dr. John Ryan is a researcher at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. He is interested in the cause of algal blooms off the coast of Monterey. Dr. Ryan has partnered with NASA to research this problem.

5. Scientific Problem Almost every year in the Monterey Bay area an algal bloom known as a “red tide” kills sea life and sometimes makes humans sick too. Dr. Ryan would like to know what is triggering the algal blooms. Almost every year in the Monterey Bay area an algal bloom known as a “red tide” kills sea life and sometimes makes humans sick too. Dr. Ryan would like to know what is triggering the algal blooms.

6. The Culprit Dr. Ryan studies three different dinoflagelates that are the probable cause of these red tide algal blooms. Before we move on in our scientific investigation, let’s research some background information about dinoflagetes. Dr. Ryan studies three different dinoflagelates that are the probable cause of these red tide algal blooms. Before we move on in our scientific investigation, let’s research some background information about dinoflagetes.

7. What are Dinoflagetes? Dinoflagetes are a type of microscopic protist found in plankton. Most plankton consists of organisms that float in the top layer of the ocean. The dinoflagetes that cause “red tide” are different. They can swim downward into deeper layers of the ocean to obtain nutrients and back up to obtain sunlight to photosynthesize. Dinoflagetes are a type of microscopic protist found in plankton. Most plankton consists of organisms that float in the top layer of the ocean. The dinoflagetes that cause “red tide” are different. They can swim downward into deeper layers of the ocean to obtain nutrients and back up to obtain sunlight to photosynthesize.

8. NASA’s DC 8 “platform” allows NASA and scientists more control of when and where imagery is collected than what can be scheduled to be taken by a satellite. NASA’s DC 8 “platform” allows NASA and scientists more control of when and where imagery is collected than what can be scheduled to be taken by a satellite. For more information on this DC 8 – click here. For more information on this DC 8 – click here.click hereclick here NASA Airborne: Collecting Data from the Sky

9. MASTER Data

10. NASA Airborne: Collecting Data from the Sky DC 8 pilots at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center prepare for flight over Monterey Bay to aide Dr. John Ryan with his algal bloom research. DC 8 pilots at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center prepare for flight over Monterey Bay to aide Dr. John Ryan with his algal bloom research.

12. Collecting Data from the Bay

14. Current Research Findings with Animations and Lecture from Dr. Ryan Click on the picture to link to the lecture. Click on the picture to link to the lecture. Use the Play, Pause and Chapter buttons to listen to the parts of the lecture that are of interest to you. Use the Play, Pause and Chapter buttons to listen to the parts of the lecture that are of interest to you.

15. Related Activities Please visit the following NASA/AREE website to discover more exciting learning activities related to this project. Please visit the following NASA/AREE website to discover more exciting learning activities related to this project.