Drones!

Hey fellow nerds! Hope you're all enjoying the beginning of the week! I can’t believe it’s already June and officially summer! Between moving into a new place and doing deep edits on my thesis proposal, I’m working on a new summer schedule now that I don’t have to TA or take classes. I’m using the extra time to focus on research, and maybe a few fun things like shopping and traveling.

Got to hike to the Bright Angel Trail with my Dad and Sam in May!

Anyway, I’m itching to talk about drones! I’ve been working with and flying drones a lot this past semester as a way to learn a new skill for data acquisition for my research. It turns out learning how to fly a drone is not as easy as it looks…

The struggle is real!

But it’s been incredibly fun! You can fly drones for a number of reasons, whether it’s professional or recreational, like fancy-looking videos, photos, and surveys. For me, I’m learning that I can take large scale but detailed imagery of my study sites so that I can create high-quality hydrologic models for my research. To practice, I first performed a survey of a stretch of Revere Beach north of Boston:

Here's my study site on Revere Beach!

The purpose of the survey was to make sure that drone surveys could actually serve as an efficient alternative to manually conducted surveys for measuring beach erosion. We flew four flights on a beautiful April morning and were able to create this map:

Here's the orthmosaic showing the imagery from the drone survey with the locations of the four manual cross sections.

It was tricky, though. We were so close to the Boston Airport that the FAA authorities asked us to fly below an altitude of 80 feet to make sure we didn’t run the risk of hitting any planes. On top of that, piping plovers were nesting nearby, so we had to make sure that our drone didn’t disturb the birds. Luckily, we were not hit either a plane or a bird, and were able to come up with a few comparisons of manual to drone surveys:

 

Some of the cross sections are a little nicer than others!

I’m still doing some image processing to make the imagery a bit more accurate, and when I get it, I’ll definitely post it! But, in the meantime, feel free to contact me or comment below if you have any thoughts or questions!

Thrifty Travel Tips

Happy hump day, fellow nerds! It's been a while since I posted, primarily because I've been editing my thesis proposal nonstop. Since it's a rainy day and I have a lot of desk work today, I figured I'd take a break to day dream about my vacation with S to Puerto Rico and share some travel tips that we've learned over the years:

A few photos from our trip!

We had a great time in Puerto Rico and I think we were able to enjoy the trip without breaking the bank. So here are our thoughts:

1.)   Choose home rentals over hotels. While a lot of hotels are pricing competitively with the emerging market share industry of home rentals, I’m still getting amazing deals from renting homes. We usually go to AirBnB for our rentals.

2.)   Use budget airfare apps and websites.  S and I used Hopper to get to Puerto Rico for less than $250 roundtrip per ticket.

3.)   Make your own meals. This will be perfect if you rent a place with a kitchen. S and I eat either one or no meals out when we stay in a place with cooking capacity. We usually eat an easy hot breakfast (e.g. eggs, toast, tea, etc.) and we have sandwiches for lunch. It’s amazing how much not eating out makes a difference in a budget.

4.)   Do the free stuff. When I visit a new place, I love exploring and seeing as much of the place as I can. Now that I’m on a budget, I’m realizing that a lot of activities (and in my opinion the most interesting stuff) are free! Outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, or biking are usually pretty cheap with the right gear. Museums often have suggested donations and student discounts. Make a list of all the free and discounted stuff before you get there so you don’t feel unnecessary pressure to blow cash when you’re in the middle of it.

5.)   Visit friends. As someone who deeply values building long-term relationships, I care about keeping in touch with friends and family no matter how far and wide they spread. That means that my door is always open to them, and it also means that I usually prioritize visiting places where my friends and family have moved. A convenient part of visiting friends means that you may not have to pay for a place to stay if they have the room. More than that, it’s a unique experience to catch up with old friends in a new place and to learn about the place they now call home.

6.)   Get TSA Pre-check and/or Global Entry. For $85, you get to forego long lines and you don’t need to take off shoes and whatever else. It’s worth the time you save, so that you don’t have to go to the airport early just to wait in long lines.

7.)   Invest in ear plugs, eye covers, and a neck doughnut. Our budget plane trips often lead to red eye flights, but it’s amazing how easy it is to sleep upright with a few gadgets.

So good luck with your travel plans and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions in the comment section below!

¿Qué pasó con las Lagunas?

Hope you all had a lovely holiday season so far! I’m in Kentucky visiting family, and I’ve been really enjoying just relaxing. Anyway, since I’ve finished a section of my prospectus, I figured I would share a bit more on my research focus for all of you who are interested.

Photo taken by my advisor of a transitional pool looking southeast towards the Andes.

Lately, I’ve been really fascinated with the lagoons that are located in Salar de Atacama (SdA). Here’s a quick refresher: SdA is a basin in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, which is the driest nonpolar desert in the world and is therefore a great place to study groundwater dynamics in arid regions. SdA is also the home of the densest naturally occurring brine, which is water that has a lot of dissolved halite (i.e. salt) and other compounds that make it denser than fresh water. My general interest is defining the factors (like evaporation, dissolution, and changes in the hydraulic gradient) that drive groundwater flow in brine-rich and arid environments which, as I’ve mentioned in a previous post, are unique from mechanisms seen more temperate climates. 

Eastern view of Lagunas Miscanti and Miniques, looking towards the east at the Andes. Photo courtesy of my advisor!

I think that the lagoons are the key to studying those factors further. Why? Because the lagoons are located along the boundaries of SdA’s surrounding mountains and the basin’s halite nucleus, which is basically a giant chunk of salt that has accumulated in the valley floor of the basin from tens of thousands of years of evaporation. The lagoons are also located along the transition zone between the relatively fresh groundwater and the brine. These lagoons are only slightly briny, whereas the groundwater under the halite nucleus is incredibly briny (in fact, it’s likely the heaviest brine naturally found anywhere in the world). This means that the lagoons are likely being recharged from relatively fresh water coming from the uphill Altiplano region in the Andes. So, these lagoons and the area around them are a great place to study the processes by which freshwater turns into such heavy brine.

Flamingos depend on the algae and the crustaceans that live in the lagoons. Photo courtesy of my advisor.

So how can I study the lagoons and the areas around the lagoons to figure out how this brine develops? One good way is to delineate the extent of the brine and to figure out where the groundwater becomes so concentrated with dissolved sodium and lithium. A lot of work has already defined the lateral extent of brine, but the vertical extent of the brine is still poorly defined. There are also a lot of insightful techniques for tracing groundwater flow by studying changes in temperature, isotope ratios, and dissolved lithium and sodium. I’ll make sure to explain each tracer in more detail later on.

So, based on what we know, it looks like the lagoons are responsible for generating some of the densest brines on earth. Why? The extremely high evaporation rates extract water out of the lagoons and leave behind the dissolved compounds like sodium and lithium to create the denser brine, which eventually sinks down and into the rest of the brine that underlies the halite nucleus. The lagoons are likely the only place for this process to occur because the surface of the halite nucleus acts like a barrier against evaporation with almost no porosity and a very high albedo.

Here’s a little peak into my progress! Let me know if you have any questions, and Happy New Year!

CAMP FOOD MENU FROM MY ACADIA TRIP

Sunday's Dinner: The Grilled Salmon

Happy Friday, everyone!  For this week’s edition of Foodie Friday, I decided to share the menu that I made for my camping trip with S and my Dad up to Acadia. The dudes knew that I probably had the most experience with making fresh food so they asked me to plan the meal schedule for our Maine getaway. I usually don’t over plan camping food, but S lately has had the worst acid reflux ever, so it mattered to me that I could create menu plan that was easily flexible for him.

So, below, you’ll see what I wrote up with photos from Pinterest (my ultimate guide in doing just about anything), ingredients, and a step-by-step guide of how a group of people can split up the meal prep. I also have my grocery list, though I must warn that it’s not one hundred percent complete with all the kitchen needs (knives, towels, etc.) and whatnot.

But I hope you enjoy and have a great weekend! Message me if you have any questions or leave comments of awesome meals you’ve done yourself!

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN JORDAN

Happy Monday! I can’t believe I managed to move in to my new grad school apartment in two days, and now I’m preparing for the school year and TAing my first class! Despite all the activity, I’m really enjoying the whole process of getting to know the department and my research team before I settle down for the semester.

And, sorting through all my old stuff as I move and unpack, I’m finding all these knick-knacks that bring waves of nostalgia, especially for Jordan. It’s the little things that make a living experience in place so special, so while it’s all very fresh in my mind, I figured I’d put together a list of places to see and things to do in Jordan. Basically, if you visit Jordan and do all ten of these things, I think you’ll be able to say you’ve really experienced a lot of important parts of the country. But keep in mind that this list is for more outdoors-oriented people.

1.)   Take a Turkish bath. My favorite Turkish bath is Al-Pasha in Jebel Amman, near the first circle (there are seven famous circles in Amman; conveniently ordered in geographic order from east to west). It’s pretty hard to find the bath, since it’s on a side street, so feel comfortable to ask around for direction. The experience of getting a whole layer of skin scrubbed off is somehow intense and relaxing at the same time. But it’s completely worth it.

2.)   Go to downtown Amman to have mansaf at Al-Quds, and try some knafeh at Habiba Sweets. I love Al-Quds; it oozes local charm. Mansaf is basically the country’s national dish, so you have to try it! Plus, a walk through the downtown area called wasad al-balad (“the center of the country”) is worth the having the experience itself. Habiba is also in wasad al-balad, and is a quick walk from Al-Quds. Just be ready for the tiny sweet shop to be completely packed at all times of the day and night with hungry customers.

3.)   Float in the DeadSea. If you go to a well-maintained beach, it is definitely a tourist trap and also quite pricey. Most hotels along the sea charge a crazy amount like 30 JD (about$42) per person for the day, but there’s one beach with a restaurant along the sea that is only about 12 JD (so about $17). If I went to a resort, I usually got in for free (either through a Fulbright event or as an extra on a movie set) or at a very discounted cost (through a group discount rate). But if you’re cool with stopping on the side of the road and taking a dip for free, just avoiding hurting yourself on the rocks with some sturdy water shoes. 

Me and my sis floating in the Dead Sea.

4.)   Navigate the water trail at Wadi Mujib. For all you outdoorsy people. Basically, you hike and rock climb, but with waterfalls gushing on top of you. It’s really refreshing and fun, especially for adventurists! Since Wadi Mujib is next to the southern section of the Dead Sea, this is especially useful for someone who’s been floating in the Dead Sea and needs to wash off all the salt. 

You might want to grab a waterproof camera to take pictures of your friends and family getting pummeled by water, like me here!

5.)   Spend a night in Wadi Rum. This is like the Dead Sea and Petra (below) in that it’s one of those must-see things. I went there twice and somehow got flat tires both times I was there, so I wax less romantic towards Wadi Rum than most expatriates living in Jordan. That being said, it is breath-takingly gorgeous and seeing it in photos does not compare to seeing it in person. 

Me and sis chilling on the dunes in Wadi Rum.

6.)   Go to Petra. Of all the tourist traps in Jordan, Petra ranks number one, but, it is a must-see. And, despite the relentless Bedouins hawking trinkets, it’s still a very magical moment to round the last corner of the wadi and see the famous façade, as popularly known from the Indiana Jones movie. I usually got in for almost free as a legal resident of Jordan, but for foreigners the cost of entrance is pretty expensive (currently at a whopping 50 JD, which is over $70 - yikes). If you don’t know a Jordanian and end up paying the foreigner fee, just pat yourself on the back for making a generous donation to UNESCO and preserving a world heritage site. 

There are also swings in Petra, if you want to do that instead.

7.)   Spend a night at Aqaba. I really love that little city by the Red Sea. The seafood there is fresh and tasty; definitely have a meal there. I used to really enjoy sitting on a dock and watching the colorful tropical fish drift in the turquoise waters. Plus, if you get hooked on knafeh and want to try recreating it at home, I remember seeing very discounted knafeh platters in the local market. The seaside resorts all cost an arm and a leg, so you can always do a day trip between Amman and Wadi Rum.

8.)   Check out Azraq. This used to be a lush spring and animal sanctuary, until the government tapped into the aquifer and almost completely drained it. It’s depressing but also very educational to visit. There’s also a bunch of desert castles along the way to Azraq, so it’s fun to make a day trip just to see the desert stuff. Plus, surprisingly, there’s a Chechen community at Azraq, and you can get to meet them a little by grabbing lunch at one of the town’s little restaurants.

9.)   Hang out at Jerash. I only did this once and I wish I could have done it at least five more times. This is one of the best preserved Roman ruins in Jordan. It’s a quick trip away from Amman by either taxi or bus. 

Me in Jerash. Admittedly not a telling photo of Jerash's beauty.

10.)Hike through Wadi Dana. My Dad and I had a good time camping on the roof of Wadi Dana’s hotel for almost no money. Then we hiked down the Wadi to really dramatic, elevated views of the wadi looking out to the Jordan Rift Valley.

Also note that a lot of the outdoor adventures require automotive transportation. It’s pretty easy to rent cars from Amman and use the capital as a base for all of these trips. However, if you’re up for the challenge, you can definitely travel to most of these locations through the impressively comprehensive and efficient system of buses.

For more outdoorsy things to check out, I also highly recommend Tropical Desert. I personally know the owner and he is fabulous at organizing and planning outdoor trips all over the country.

Over all, Jordan is a very tourist-friendly country and completely worth a visit. Good luck and safe travels!

DEPENDABLE PACKS FOR DAY HIKES

Beginning the hike around Fort Worden State Park, WA.

Just made it back from the Pacific Northwest! I think I’m on caffeine withdrawal from all the amazing coffee I had (shout out to Stumptown!) which is not the easiest thing to deal with while I pack and move to graduate school. But I’m so excited for the move that I’m running off of the adrenaline. Anyway, I’m taking a mellow morning break to collect my thoughts, plan the day, and also write a quick post on what’s quickly become my favorite day pack for all those hiking trips.

I love this day pack, called the Flash 18, from REI. I already have a lovely Osprey backpack for the heavy duty hauling, but I’ve been searching for a light, dependable bag for those days when I’m doing day hikes while “car camping.” I’ve used this pack on four-day trips so far and have really appreciated its storage capacity. For easy reference, a lot of packs have their liter capacity included in their title, so this day pack stores 18 liters worth of stuff. In my world, for the day hike where there was an opportunity for a lake swim, that equates to a full lunch (i.e. sandwich, chips, trail mix, and apple), bug spray, sun lotion, a towel, and a bathing suit. But I’ve also taken this bag to the beach, and was able to pack two sandwiches and two beach towels. Not bad!

Looking out at the Strait of Juan de Fucca from Battery Kinsey in Fort Worden.

There are two features about this pack that I particularly love. The first is a plastic carabineer that connects to the inside of the pack through a nylon line. As a very forgetful person, I attach my car keys to this line as a way to give myself the peace of mind that I won’t drop the keys somewhere along the trail. The second feature is the two cross-body straps. One cross body strap goes over the upper chest while the second runs around the waist. Though I’m used to cross-body straps for the larger cross country packs, I’m realizing why even the smaller bags have them now. Because, hiking a whole day, even the smallest bags will start chafing underarms and stressing the back. 

Hiking up the trail in "Paradise," in the Mount Rainier National Park, WA.

It seems like this bag has a pretty strong base of fans, too. One REI employee told me that all of her coworkers own at least one, and two different people have stopped me on the trail to tell me how much they love the bag too!

I think it usually costs around $40 ($35 for REI members), which seems like a decent price considering its durability. Osprey and EMS also have other day packs with similar dimensions and slightly higher prices. Plus I’m sure there are a lot more similar products out there, so feel free to take your time to find which day pack is right for you. Hope this review helped!

BEING A GEOBABE: SEVERAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT WOMEN IN THE GEOSCIENCES

A Chihuly sculpture and the needle in Seattle, WA!

Lucky me, I’m celebrating the end of my full-time consulting job with a trip! My husband took me to Seattle for one of his conferences, so I get to relax poolside and explore the city while he works! Well, we’re finally going to do some hiking this weekend, so this is finally going to start feeling like a vacation for him too!

Taking a break from all the relaxing, I decided to write about geobabes, that is, women who are into the geosciences.  

The term geobabe originally came from my group of friends at my college’s Geology Department. It stuck with me because I appreciate that it is a fun and simple way to celebrate women and femininity in a traditionally male and masculine academic field. I have to say, though, that women are doing well and are strong in the geosciences. At the same time, we are still in a world where gender norms still affect all aspects in life. As a geologist working up a career, there are a lot of women in the field that mentor me and I feel so lucky for that.

But there are other aspects of being a woman in geology that I have noticed as well. As much as I love the generally welcoming and open nature in the geologist community, I’m also noticing there is a distinctly masculine energy that pervades the culture and that there is little room for femininity. Some might say that many aspects of stereotypically feminine traits might be backwards or demeaning towards women, but as a self-proclaimed feminist, I like to think that women are truly free when they can land anywhere on the feminine-masculine spectrum that they want. Plus, if masculinity is venerated, or even simply allowed to be the standard, that’s still creating the underlying assumption that male-oriented behavior and culture is somehow superior like it’s the standard that everyone should follow.

For example, I love painting my nails, and I’ll often have my nails done out in the field while I’m working. I have received more than a handful of judgmental comments from coworkers, being mostly men, on how I work with my nails done and whether it’s appropriate. Always graciously, I respond with saying something like my painted nails don’t affect my safety or my work product. These interactions always make me a little uncomfortable because those around me are still so ready to look beyond my work’s credibility to focus on what makes me different. That critical eye makes it that much harder to gain a solid reputation in a woman’s career.

Just last week, a woman came up to be during a professional meeting and mentioned as an aside, as if she was trying to help me, that “my look” makes it harder for people to take me seriously. I was quite surprised by this comment, considering that I always maintain the highest degree of professionalism, and I asked her to elaborate. She literally said that I come off as a “pretty girl,” and apparently that’s not ok in her book. I think probably what she meant is that I’m very feminine, with long hair, makeup, and dresses, and it’s simply harder to take feminine women more seriously.

Coming away from that interaction was certainly difficult because it made me question my credibility in the eyes of others. Especially since it came from a woman, making me aware of how critical women can be of one another. But I came to the conclusion that I can’t change the assumptions that someone might make upon seeing me at face value. I’m very happy and comfortable being what some people might describe as “too feminine,” and as much as I want to be taken seriously, I’m going to get that respect through my work, not my looks.

So, to all my geobabes out there, in all your various glorious shades, stay strong and keep finding those cool rocks.