What is Ocean's 4? We are a group of four students from Pearson College who are spending today, 17 April 2010, investigating THE OCEAN. We are Kakuho (Japan), Lara (Canada), Felix (Ghana), and Makyla (Canada).

THE OCEAN is a rather large and broad topic, so step one was to narrow down our investigation to one aspect of the ocean. Our initial brainstorming session resulted in four basic ideas:

1. Measure the variation in salinity levels in different places in Pedder Bay
2. Investigate the possibility of installing a water wheel in Pedder Bay by researching OR building a water wheel prototype
3. Investigate the impact of the abandoned boat on Pedder Bay by measuring dissolved oxygen levels
4. Investigate a) if there is a difference in tree height in relation to proximity to the shoreline and if so b) what the ocean’s affect on this is

We took these options to various science teachers who each gave us very different feedback. One said that building the water wheel would be great but we should test it at the waterfall. When we protested that the waterfall was not exactly THE OCEAN, she said that it could count because it flows into THE OCEAN, which was disputed by another individual. Whose advice to take? By this time, we had further narrowed our choices down to options 2 and 3. We looked into the practicality of building a wheel:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5666640_make-wheel-out-popsicles-sticks.html

http://www.ehow.com/way_5601947_homemade-water-wheel-generator.html

We also investigated the practicality of measuring dissolved oxygen levels. Upon speaking to the lab technician, we discovered that an instrument exists that exactly fitted our needs: a dissolved oxygen probe.

Ultimately, we decided to measure the effect of the abandoned boat for a few reasons.

1. It reveals the most about the ecosystems in Pedder Bay and the affect alien objects have on oxygen levels, and subsequently the ecosystem

2. If significant results are found, for example if the boat has a detrimental affect on the surrounding area, then it could result in measures being taken to remove it from its current location.

3. Practically speaking, this was the most realistic process that could be completed within the given time frame that would also investigate something of interest to us.

The next step was to secure a dissolved oxygen probe from Jonathan and get started!