"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Buoys
05/16/26
“What are those floating devices in the oceans used for?”
If you look out at the ocean in areas of high human activity, you’ll likely see a series of strange floating objects. These objects, known as Buoys, help ships with a variety of tasks, from marking channels to conveying regulations to delineating where to anchor.
Sewer Regulators
05/15/26
“How can we release water into outfalls during combined sewer overflows?”
Combined sewers take in both storm and sanitary connections. However, when there is a combined sewer overflow event, some water must be released into outfalls. This can be accomplished with Sewer Regulators, pipes to outfalls that activate when the stormflow becomes large enough. Sewerage would back up without regulators, making them a critical component in combined sewer systems.
Image credit: https://www.nyc.gov/
High-Level Storm Sewers
05/14/26
“Why are some storm sewers placed higher than the main sewer systems?”
Storm sewers carry excess rainwater runoff off the surface. But some storms are too intense for normal storm sewer systems to handle. To compensate for this, local governments can build storm sewers that are located above normal storm sewers, so when the stormwater backup gets high enough, it will flow into these High-Level Storm Sewers.
Reservoir Sedimentation
05/13/26
“Why does sediment get trapped behind dams?”
Dams hold up reservoirs by impeding water flow. Sediment in this slower or still water will drop to the bottom of the reservoir bed and accumulate. Over time, the built-up sediment will impede reservoir effectiveness. Infrastructure managers need to address this Reservoir Sedimentation phenomenon in their operations.
Why Sandbars are Important for Naval Navigation
05/12/26
“Why are sandbars so important for navigation for naval navigation?”
Sandbars are a peculiar feature of bodies of water. But when it comes to ship navigation, their presence can drastically shape a ship’s journey. Because sandbars may rest just under the water, unsuspecting boats can steer into them and get trapped. Furthermore, sandbars may form the contours of navigation channels for ships. Sand bars also change over time, adding unpredictability to ship helmsmanship. On the flip side, sandbars can serve as natural harbors protecting ships from harsh elements. These are the reasons Why Sandbars are Important for Naval Navigation.
Sandbars
05/11/26
“How do submerged or partially exposed coarse sediment bodies form in water?”
Waves and currents can move and deposit sand, silt, and other coarse sedimentary material into long, narrow ridges that are submerged or partially exposed to the air. These shapes, called Sandbars, can defend shorelines from erosion and towns from storms by breaking wind/wave energy.
Channels (Geography)
05/10/26
“How do we describe narrow bodies of flowing water?”
Water will flow from one place to another because of a hydraulic potential difference. When the flow becomes narrow, it turns into a form people describe as a channel. Channels come in many forms, from simple streams to mighty sea-borne nautical channels.
Dam Removal
05/07/26
“Why do people remove dams?”
Dams are constructed to harness hydroelectric power, suppress floods, irrigate agriculture, store drinking water, and much more. However, dams will degrade over time, and their drawbacks may outweigh their benefits. Consequently, people will undertake Dam Removal projects. Dam removal can restore riverine ecosystems to their natural state.
Dredging
05/06/26
“Why do people excavate material from bodies of water?”
People have been shaping bodies of water for millenia. One way is to excavate material (usually solid) from a water body and move it somewhere else. This process, called Dredging, is used to improve navigation channel performance, remove sediment, and even create entirely new land somewhere else!
Isaac's Science Blog 