Coastal Eco Explorer vs Mini Secchi

Coastal Eco Explorer is an interactive mobile app for the exploration of coastal NC wildlife at Carolina Beach State Park and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. Utilize the app at the parks, traverse the trails and ecosystems using the app’s map, and read and watch videos about native flora, fauna, and ecosystems. The mobile application was created as a partnership between UNC Wilmington faculty and students and North Carolina State Park rangers to bring a unique and free educational tool to park visitors, teachers, and the public. Visit https://uncw.edu/ed/coastalecoexplorer to access supplemental resources, lesson plans, trail videos, and ranger-guided tours of featured ecosystems.

The Secchi disk is a white disk that is lowered into the water and the depth at which it disappears and reappears from sight is logged. This depth is proportional to the clarity or transparency of the water. The Forel Ule colour scale is used to classify the colour of natural waters.It consists of 21 colours ranging from blue to green to yellow to brown, and is used alongside the Secchi disk with the observer typically recording the colour of a submerged Secchi disk with this app. The app will guide you through each measurement, store location data, photos and additional observations.