Field trip: surface sampling

On our field trip, after the coring is done, we need to take surface samples, with which we check what environments we have found in the core. When we describe the core, we hypothesise about what environments the various units we find represent. We then check these units for foraminifera content. If these foraminifera match those found in these environments, we accept our hypothesis. If they don't, we can come up with an alternative, if other environments fit better.

With the students, I first let them think about what environments they wanted to sample. And where they wanted to do it. Then we had some lunch. And then we went into the field.

For some students, this would be a very long day. On this field trip, there is one activity that requires high water. As this time we tended to have low water in the afternoon, high water was quite early. Some students had been picked up at 6 am from main campus. It had also been horrendous weather. And now they would be in the field with me. But they weren't disheartened.

We first did saltmarsh and mudflat. That took us a while! I had encouraged the students to figure out what vegetation we had on the marsh. I had brought vegetation guides. This takes time.

When that was done, we went further into the estuary to do the sand flat samples. The sand flat was quite scenic with a lot of sand blowing around. And it was eventful, because some of the sand was quite good for sinking into. And the mood was good. At some point we were even trying to take selfies with the GPS. But even so; we were glad when we were done, and we could return to headquarters. And then go home.

Fun on the marsh

The day after, I picked up the same group of students to go to the lab, so they could sieve out their samples. I was processing the samples from the sediment core. And when they were done with their own samples, the students helped me with those. That was lovely!

After the lab session I brought the students back to headquarters, where I picked up the other group. With them I did the same as I had done the previous day with the first group; we first had a discussion about sampling strategy. And I suppose there is one most obvious strategy to follow, so this group ended up doing the same as the previous group. I just had the impression they were enjoying it a lot less. But it did so happen that they were faster. Maybe because they weren't spending time on having fun.

On the sandflat

The day after that I had a lab session with this group, after which I brought them to headquarters. There was only one fieldwork activity left now! This was making progress. Once the field trip properly starts, it flies by. And then we quickly switch back to campus mode. Time for field notebook marking, and lectures about how to turn all the data into a coherent report…