News and Events at the ESL
ESL at Louisiana SeaGrant's Ocean Commotion 2013
Hundreds of K-8 students head to LSU's PMAC to learn about Louisiana's coastal systems
The ESL team headed over to LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center on October 22nd to participate in Louisiana SeaGrant's Ocean Commotion, an annual event that allows over 60 public and private organizations the opportunity to introduce Kindergarten through 8th grade students to topics of interest along our coast. Hundreds of students from around the state participated in this years event where they were able to hear about their coastal ecosystem and the role they can play in stewarding a healthy coastal environment for all of its inhabitants.
The ESL presented a variety of applications of satellite data to coastal management. Students were introduced to the theory of remote sensing, how scientists use that theory to study the Earth's atmosphere and ocean, the role that the ocean plays in "powering" tropical cyclones, how scientists were able to determine the fate of surface oil during the BP oil spill by monitoring ocean currents, and much more. Many students offered their own theories of how hurricanes are formed, what makes a hurricane strong, and what a "dead zone" might be. They were fascinated by how much there was to learn and about the relationship that the ocean has on our coastal zones and our weather patterns.
Many thanks to Louisiana Sea Grant for allowing our state's youth the opportunity to learn more about our coastal zone and how we can best help keep it strong!
LSU's Tiger Challenge Comes to the ESL
Campers discuss how scientists use remote sensing to monitor and study natural disasters
On June 19th sixteen 5th and 6th graders stopped by the Earth Scan Laboratory to find out how scientists use satellite and in-situ measurements to monitor and study hurricanes, tornados, flooding, and more. The campers learned about air-sea interactions that can strengthen or weaken hurricanes and tropical storms, how these interactions impact life in the ocean, how researchers track sediment loads along the coast during flooding events, and how new satellite systems are giving us a whole new view of tornados as they happen. Campers were very eager to see and learn about Hurricane Gustav, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and how remote sensing affords us all essential information that helps our communities stay safe and to respond to significant events.
We would like to thank the folks at LSU's Tiger Challenge for stopping by to learn more about remote sensing of natural disasters!
