ERG members board R/V Lake Guardian for a research survey of Lake Erie
On July 15th, ERG members Serghei Bocaniov, Kayla Martin, and Tia Jenkins left port in Cleveland, OH, aboard R/V Lake Guardian to participate in the 2024 summer survey of Lake Erie. The R/V Lake Guardian is the largest research vessel of the U.S. EPA and the largest research vessel operating on the Laurentian Great Lakes.
Over a week’s time, the research vessel visited more than 100 sampling stations throughout Lake Erie to survey benthos and collect water samples and sediment cores. The vessel carried 32 passengers including both crew members and scientists.
Serghei, Kayla and Tia collected samples from sediment cores. Initially, 8 stations had been chosen to collect sediments throughout Lake Erie’s three basins. Although coring failed at some of the originally selected stations because of the presence of gravel and bedrock, nearby stations were identified, and ERG members were able to return to Waterloo with sediments from 12 stations!
At each station, two cores were retrieved using a multi-corer. The first core was sectioned into one-centimeter intervals and will be used for dating by the lead 210 method. The second core was also sectioned into one-centimeter intervals and will be used for phosphorus and microplastic analyses.
Besides processing the cores, ERG members found some time to enjoy amazing sunsets from the top deck and join staff and other scientists in the galley playing battleship or watching pawn stars. They also enjoyed tasty meals prepared by the two chefs on board, as well as desserts made by the captain who loves to bake.
