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Methods and Tools
Researchers prepare scientific equipment for deployment. In this photo, scientists are setting up an equipment package to monitor currents within the water column.
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The R/V G.K. Gilbert is one of many vessels used for field research. This research vessel was specially designed for use on shallow coasts such as this study area.
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In this environment, most samples are taken through a method known as "vibracoring". The samples are then taken back to a lab, where they are split and examined. Core samples are used to interpret the geologic history of an area through an understanding of the stratigraphy underlying the surface.
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The orange cylindrical instrument extending from the bottom of this buoy is an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP). The buoy floats on the sea surface and records a profile of current speeds and directions at all depths.
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Satellite imagery is used to study circulation patterns within the Gulf of Mexico. This image shows a coastal upwelling event, where cold water is driven from deep waters to the near-shore surface.
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