April 24 2008
April 24 2008
Hauling in the magnetometer before deploying the seismics
Greg Buikema (MT) deploying the seismic array.
Todays marine mammal watcher Lauren Greene
These guys don’t seem phased at all by the deployment of the seismic array!
Seismics tested and brought safely back onboard
Large numbers of fossil corals sorted and packed up the for transporting home.
Today, the first testing of the seismic survey equipment was carried out for the University of Texas group. Two air guns were deployed, which released compressed air to produce sound waves, followed by a “streamer” of hydrophones, which pick up the reflected signals of the sediments and rocks under the seafloor. Before each survey, a marine mammal watcher has to go up to the bridge and keep a look out for whales and seals; if any mammals are seen, the survey is stopped.
As for the biologists and geochemists, we’ve spent today packing up yet more corals (5000 solitary corals at the last count!).
Comments from John Swartz:
My name’s John, and I’m a chemistry student at the University of Pittsburgh. I was invited by Laura and Rhian last year to work with them on this cruise, and I happily accepted. This is my first time out at sea, and as I am very interested in attending grad school for geochemistry, it’s quite important to me that I know if I enjoy the field work!
Being out at sea for the first time is a very unique experience, unlike anything else I’ve ever done. I discovered early on that I am a very lucky person as I have suffered none of the effects of sea sickness, much to the chagrin of people with far more sea experience than me. Living on board the Palmer is very interesting so far, as there are so many small things that I’ve needed to become adjusted to. The hardest thing so far has been the time shift, as I am on the midnight to midday watch. Completely reversing my sleep cycle for the first time in my life has been fairly hard to adjust to in the last few days, but I am beginning to get used to it.
I’ve been at sea for a few days now, the exact number I can’t think of. Time seems to lose meaning to me out here, the day and date no longer really matter. Even the passing of hours isn’t that important. While my watch is midnight to midday, I find myself up hours before midnight and not sleeping until the afternoon. The closest thing to regularity is the meal schedule.
The work I’ve been helping with so far has been very interesting to me, as it is helping to decide whether I want to continue on this career path. I was offered this after working with Laura in her lab at Woods Hole last year, and don’t have a very specific set of tasks I am trying to accomplish out here, unlike most of the other science team. I help where I can, whether it be helping to edit the ships sonar data, bring in trawls and sort them, organize the labs, and generally lend a hand to whoever needs it.
The thing I have enjoyed the most, though, is working out on deck. In the last few days I’ve been lucky enough to be able to help out our Marine Techs a few times with recovery of our trawls and the launching of a CTD, and I’ve absolutely loved it. The feeling of being out on deck with the cold wind blowing across you and the waves rising a few meters away from you is indescribable. I find myself going outside every few hours just to look across the emptiness of the ocean, watching the swell of the sea and the clouds in the distance. The feeling is truly magnificent. I don’t know if it’s just because it’s my first time at sea, but I’ve completely fallen in love with being out at sea. I’ve really begun to solidify my opinion that this type of work is what I want to do with my life.
I’ll be writing more specific blogs in the coming weeks, but thought some general thoughts would be a good place to start. Thanks again to Laura and Rhian for extending me this terrific opportunity!
John Swartz
All photos by Dann Blackwood unless otherwise stated