Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there a one-page handout describing the project?
  Yes, the following link opens the document as Word .doc

• Can you recommend a microscope and camera appropriate for the project?
  Yes, open this 2-page document for a detailed description and contact information.

• Why isn't the GIS map active?
  This feature has not been installed yet, pending data uploaded from a sufficient number of sites.  We expect this by mid-2006.

• Can I talk with people from other collection sites?
  Not yet.  This feature is not set up, but we are working to get it in place.  Once logged in as a member, there will be an email list and discussion board.

• Are there other ways to collect Aeolian Detritus, besides the procedure shown in "Resources"?
  Of course, there are any number of alternatives.  One of the most effective is to collect snow, either fresh fallen or ground cover.  New snowflakes often crystalize around airborne particles, scrubbing them from the atmosphere.  Snow that has covered the ground for days behaves just like the fabric sheet, collecting atmospheric dust over time.  It can be scooped up, melted, and filtered just like rinsing the fabric sheet.
  
  
  When substituting alternate procedures or materials, be sure to think through the consequences.  For example, replacing the cut-out coffee can with a beaker can fill up with the rinse water and overflow.

• What is the pore size of a coffee filter?  Am I losing particulate material?
  Coffee filter pore sizes average about 100 microns.  This is smaller than the majority of micrometeorites, pollen grains, and insect parts you would be likely to find.  Some fraction of airborne mineral dust (loess) may be lost, and this should be considered if quantifying relative grain sizes.
  If your experiment design requires capturing smaller grains, down to about 10 microns, contact us for a vacuum pump/millipore filter procedure.

• The residue is all clumped up on the filter paper, and I can't see individual grains. What should I do?
  When rinsing the collector sheet onto the filter, try to distribute the residue more evenly before gluing and drying, which will allow light to pass through and around individual grains.  This can be done with a gentle spray or a clean stirring rod, for example.

• If I am doubtful about setting up a collection on my own, can someone from NADP visit my site to help?
  Yes!  (Well, probably...) Except for cases of extreme remoteness or schedule conflicts, we are available to visit each site to assist in design or setup and analysis.  Please contact us by email to discuss scheduling and logistics for a representative visit, either as an introduction or follow-up to the experiment.
  
  
  
• I am unable to obtain some of the materials needed for the collection.  Can NADP supply me with these?
  Yes.  While coffee cans and filters can be found anywhere, the nylon fabric may be harder to locate.  Let us know and we can mail you a brand-new 5'x5' sheet, probably in about a week.  If your group is interested in using the millipore vacuum-filtration method, we may be able to supply some of this equipment as well.