Education: Webinar Clips and Resources by Scientist/Educator

Fred Bingham

Professor
University of North Carolina

Dr. Bingham received his Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego in Oceanography. His research interests include global distributions of sea surface salinity and large scale regional physical oceanography in the Kuroshio, the western North and Equatorial Pacific, and Onslow Bay, North Carolina.
Temperature and salinity graphs from Argo Float #7572

Argo Data Visualization (00:02:33)  Asking Questions and Defining Problems Analyzing and Interpreting Data Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 
Argo floats measure salinity at pre-programmed depths on a regular schedule, sending data back to oceanographers to view. Dr. Fred Bingham walks us through what that data might look like when visualized from month to month and this gives us an idea of how salinity varies throughout the year.
SPURS glider survey

Dr. Fred Bingham introduces viewers to an at-sea glider system, including their importance and function in modern oceanographic research.
Argo float locations (October 2012)

Introduction to Argo (00:03:46)  Planning and Carrying Out Investigations Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 
An introduction to the Argo float program, a worldwide network of profiling floats taking measurements in the world's oceans.
Ablation of paint on a mixed-layer Lagrangian float

Dr. Fred Bingham describes how a new type of float - called a Lagrangian float - is used for at-sea salinty research.
Seaglider

Introduction to Seagliders (00:02:03)  Planning and Carrying Out Investigations Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 
There are surface drifters and wave gliders, so what constitutes a seaglider? Dr. Fred Bingham tells us in this clip, and shares how these drifters helped researchers to better understand the SPURS region.
Vessels, drifters and floats

An introduction to the types of in-situ instrumentation used during a research cruise to the mid-Atlantic, including surface drifters.
Prawler mooring

Dr. Fred Bingham introduces a specific type of instrument that "crawls" up and down a mooring line. The importance of this new technology, as well as what can happen if things go wrong, are discussed in this clip.
Deployment of a surface flux mooring

During SPURS, three research moorings were deployed. In combination, these three stationary platforms collected data in the SPURS region, an area in the northern mid-Atlantic, playing a key role in understanding the high salinity area.
Fresh pool evolution

In this clip, data from a Lagrangian Float - as well as its interpretation - are shared.
Seaglider dive path

Seaglider Data Visualization (00:03:42)  Analyzing and Interpreting Data Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 
This clip highlights the mechanisms by which a seaglider, a popular type of oceanographic research equipment, moves throughout the ocean and how it is able to collect and transmit data to satellites in space.
Surface drifter

Surface Drifters and SPURS (00:04:24)  Planning and Carrying Out Investigations Analyzing and Interpreting Data Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 
As part of the SPURS study, 40 surface drifters were deployed to measure salinity and other variables. Dr. Fred Bingham explains their ability to move through the ocean autonomously, and what information that they can provide researchers.
Sea surface salinity for the SPURS region

Dr. Fred Bingham talks how using both satellites and in-situ equipment is creating a more accurate picture of processes occurring in the salty Atlantic.
Wave glider deployed from the R/V Knorr

What Are Wave Gliders? (00:03:43)  Planning and Carrying Out Investigations Analyzing and Interpreting Data Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 
In this clip, Dr. Fred Bingham gives an overview of the various components aboard a wave glider.