I assume that this is a scaffold pole, it’s the right size. It’s been in the water off the Haslar Marina Pier Wall for a long time. It was bedded in to the in to the seafloor but it was at an awkward angle. It could easily have been a danger, to anyone (illegally I think) diving off the pier wall, and definitely to any small ship that might come in close – even if they aren’t supposed to (I have no idea if that’s correct). But it makes for an interesting picture.
It was a little bit cooler this morning, for the first time in quite a few weeks I wore joggers, light ones, but I really appreciated them. It was the coolest morning of the week. But it felt like a good morning.
Just over a month ago we were talking on the #Breakfastclub about the absence of the jelly fish, and the lack of life bigger than insects. Jo, G6RTE just happened to ask about the salinity of the water. I had no idea how to measure that and so asked google the question. Turns out it’s a straight forward inexpensive device (£10 or thereabouts) called a Refractometer, so I bought one. Very simple to use. It’s easily calibrated using a solution of a known salinity level, using a very small sample of water, it works on the basis of refraction (hence the name) having been calibrated the more or less saline the sample being tested refracts the light against the scale. Very easy to use.
Just a few days later, another member of the #Breakfastclub suggested that nitrate levels might be affecting the viability of the ponds. This gets a little bit more complicated, but devices for measuring the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC) and PH, now, my understanding of PH is a measure the acidity or alkalinity of something, but nobody seems able to say what PH stands for with any degree of certainty. Anyhow, it turns out that devices to measure these three parameters are even cheaper than a refractometer (as cheap as (£6). Anyhow, I bought them (there are two devices involved. I did my first full set of readings today;
- Salinity 38 – 39%
- PH 7.77
- TDS 2300 ppm
- EC7700
I have to do a little bit of research into what the last two mean, but I think the PH is pretty much normal. I think I’m going to have to report on this at least once a week now.
Bills Posts 