DO NOT GET CLOSER THAN (10 Feet or 3 meters) OF THE SEA TURTLES, DO NOT TOUCH, FEED, OR SCARE THEM.
( There is no physical container to find this is virtual (Earth Cache) )
Laniakea Beach is known for its sea turtles that frequently visit the beach these sea turtles are known as the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle and the Hawksbill Sea Turtle. They come to feed on an algae that grows on the limestone rocks that make up a good portion of the beach. About the algae,
The coastal underwater formations are home to one of the most striking limu (algae) found in the Islands. Martensia Fragilis grows on rocks in tide pools and on reef flats. The iridescent species ranges from light blue to pink and orange in color.
There is a long limestone shelf across the beach making for not so great swimming conditions but allowing the algae to grow for the sea turtles, how the limestone was formed,
Limestone forms when calcite or aragonite precipitates out of water containing dissolved calcium, which can take place through both biological and nonbiological processes. The solubility of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is controlled largely by the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) in the water. This is summarized in the reaction:
CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 → Ca2+ + 2HCO−3
Increases in temperature or decreases in pressure tend to reduce the amount of dissolved CO2 and precipitate CaCO3. Reduction in salinity also reduces the solubility of CaCO3, by several orders of magnitude for fresh water versus seawater.
Near-surface water of the earth's oceans are oversaturated with CaCO3 by a factor of more than six.The failure of CaCO3 to rapidly precipitate out of these waters is likely due to interference by dissolved magnesium ions with nucleation of calcite crystals, the necessary first step in precipitation. Precipitation of aragonite may be suppressed by the presence of naturally occurring organic phosphates in the water. Although ooids likely form through purely inorganic processes, the bulk of CaCO3precipitation in the oceans is the result of biological activity. Much of this takes place on carbonate platforms.
How was limestone formed specifically on the Hawaiian islands?
The islands have gone through a complex series of emergences and submergences leaving marine fossiliferous limestone up to 1,070 feet above sea level on Hawaii and valleys drowned more than 1,200 feet.
The most common sedimentary rocks on the islands of Hawai‘i including Oahu, are marine limestone and calcareous sandstone. Colonial coral polyps build calcareous skeletons that create Hawai‘i’s beautiful reef ecosystems. Because corals live close to the ocean surface, reefs are highly susceptible to changes in sea level. Both relative and absolute sea level changes can leave reefs quite literally high and dry. Wind and wave action erode the exposed reef to form large quantities of carbonate sand and dunes. During times of particularly high sea level, water movement pushes these dunes inland where they are lithified and preserved.
Logging tasks (Remember to send Vikesfan818 answers or else your log may be deleted)
1: What is the main difference of the beach compared to other sandy beaches on Oahu, like Waikiki etc? Hint ( look at shoreline area)
2: What color algae do you see on the limestone (if you don't see any say #2 skip)
3: why would this algae like to grow on this beach compared to others on Oahu?
4: Post a log picture with a personal item or you (bonus if you can have a picture with a sea turtle)
(Sources from Wikipedia, Earth at Home. Changed a few things aswell)