Helen K White Lab

The rain today reminded me that I needed to post photos from the coastal geology field trip that Sarah and I went on with Don Barber (BMC) and his sedimentology and marine geology class a few weekends ago. Unlike today, the weather was beautiful and sunny. With Don at the helm, we drove around the coastline, noted streets that no longer exist (they slipped into the ocean some time ago), watched dolphins, thought about erosion, where you should (or should not) build a house, and sea-level rise. We rambled through salt marshes, ate a picnic on the beach, took some sediment cores and of course brought some mud back with us. It was clear that the land has changed and continues to do so. Coastal environments are dynamic and enable us to learn about earth systems today, as well as in the past. Once informed about these processes we can make predictions and more informed decisions for the future (for example, where to build that house!). Not only do these environments provide us with a practical sense of the environment, but they are also a ton of fun to explore. Walking along the high tide line we found many treasures. Check out the photos for more.

Hi, I am Sarah Choyke. I am a  senior chemistry major and geology minor. I’m doing my senior thesis research with Helen White investigating the association between organic matter and minerals in sediments. I’ve always been curious about how the environment works and the chemistry behind it. This summer I worked at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and had a whirlwind introduction to oceanography and spent many quality hours lounging on the beach. I like running, cooking and of course, working in lab.

Sarah on our recent fieldtrip to the coast