R/V Melville day 13

Day 13: Question of the day

How does science on the ship compare to science being taught on land considering the fact being on the ship your actually seeing things first hand and up close ? - Tyrell Robinson

What is the purpose of measuring conductivity? - Adanna Knox-luli

What is a dynamic positioning ship? What are winches and air tuggers used for? - Lorenzo McClure

-What we are taught in class can not compare to what i have learned at sea, its the little things and the small key bits of information that really make everything click, seeing and learning what is happening, why, has really opened my eyes on the whole concept and I feel this is the best teaching method that could possibly be used.
-The purpose of measuring conductivity is to see the speed at which the water throughout the water column travels (ex. current). This gives us an idea of what the water that is under the surface is doing and where it is going.
-A dynamic positioning ship is a ship that can keep the same position if the swell and wind forbid. This ship has the normal 2 propellers under the stern (back of the ship) but also is equipped with a bow thruster which can be lowered and from within the hull of the ship this thruster is another propeller that like the two in the stern. They all can swivel 360 degrees, and each can operate at different speeds, they work together to keep the ship from changing not only direction but position.
-The Winches and air tugger are used to lower cable, instruments, and basically everything that needs to be deployed overboard is placed or aided there using either a winch or air tugger.

The main control panel room in the engine room

one of the 4 diesel powered generators

The water distiller 

The mechanic shop

The seismic compressor 

The trraction winch

The inside view of the port side propeller and shaft

R/V Melville day 12

Day 12: Question of the day

How is the information gathered from this trip going to be used for the benefit in the scientific community? -Adrian Hernandez

Why does the ctd collect information like temperature, salinity, oxygen, pressure, density, and others? what will the information conclude?What is a MMP?How will you get the styrofoam cups into the depths of the ocean? -Jazmine Puentes 

-The information gathered on this research expedition will benefit the scientific community by finally collecting an understanding for internal waves, and hydraulic mixing throughout the water column. Age old curiosities that have never been understood.
-The CTD collects data using temperature, salinity, oxygen, pressure, density, and conductivity to measure fluctuations throughout the water which is hypothesized to be mixing caused by internal waves.
-The MMP is a Mclane Moored Profiler more information can be seen about this amazing instrument at http://www.mclanelabs.com/master_page/product-type/profilers/mclane-moored-profiler
-We will attach the styrofoam cups to the CTD cage itself, we will send the package with the cups attached to approximately 1500 meters below the surface.

Technologically prepared? OH YEA laptops galore 

The night shift with Chief Scientist Ruth Musgrave, Michael Fuentes, and Hanne Beate Skattor

Felipe Gomez preparing a tag line

Scientist Paul Chua calibrating a ADCP on the CTD

Securing the CTD on board to change location

Kris Weeks and Hanne Beate Skattor preforming a XPT

Chief Scientist Ruth Musgrave downloading data on the deck

Felipe Gomez and Scientist Jen McKinnon working on the CTD

Chief Scientist Amy Waterhouse and Scientist Jonathan Nash 

look at the computer sitting on the crate "Scary Stuff" 

Scientist Jen Mackinnon ready to download data from the CTD

Sun setting 11-21-12

Elizabeth Bunin and Scientist Jonathan Nash enjoying the view

The Breathtaking view from the bow

R/V Melville day 11

Day 11: Question of the day
Why are you measuring salt? - Miles Lawrence
 Are you work in groups? What is the work of each person? - Ludim Bello

-We are gathering measurements on salinity to measure density or how dense the water is. This data  helps us understand fluctuations in mixing throughout the water column. 
- We work in 3 shifts, from 8pm-4am(my shift), 4am-12pm ( Julie's shift), and lastly from 12pm-8pm.
Each Shift has to have one person watching the CTD screen looking for drastic changes in tension, and telling the winch operator how deep to send the package. Another person must assist with this process ( 2 sets of eyes are better then 1), a third person must be the watcher, so when ever the CTD is within 100 meters of the surface a person has to be outside on the deck in the vision of the winch operator, it is this persons job to give hand signals to the winch operator to tell him when the equipment is almost at the waters surface so the winch knows to stop, this person must also check to make sure the cable does not rub against the hull of the ship and to tell the winch and bridge to stop if the wire angle is not good. The last person is usually the floater, this person can jump from job to job, and also gets snacks for the rest of the crew.

Data from today -BIG CURRENT- 

Chief scientist Ruth Musgrave analyzing data

Julie Alverez ready to launch an XPT 

Ready, Aim, Fire! -Hanne Beate Skattor 

Scientists Paul Chua and Jonathan Nash attaching a microcat 

Elizabeth Bunin ready for work

The mulltibeam data of Mendocino ridge

The seagulls that follow the ship every night

Paul Chua and Elizabeth Bunnin spotting a whale

The view of the deck from the bridge 

R/V Melville day 10

Day 10: Question of the day

How do you know that the wave was a "5 meter" wave? How are you able to measure that from on the ship? -Tianna Brown

Jonathan how have you changed the way you speak so dramatically, from a basic student to a professional scientist? Its Amazing , how you make it possible? explain some tips? Are you homesick? - Dulce Quinonez

-On board we have a radar system called WAMOS and it has sensors all around she ship and uses satellite  to record wave hight and then computes a  average (or peak) wave hight.
-I am not sure that my speech has changed at all, i feel i express my vocabulary better written rather then spoken.
-I am not homesick, I do miss home though and my family, but i know i will survive and use this time to grow and use this as a step to mold myself to life in the real world.

The view of the bow from the bridge 

Rain, gale force winds, and 20+ foot seas

2nd mate Heather Galiher at the wheel

Julie Alverez enjoying the morning off the bow

Some of the data we are collecting

Data data data

CDT casting 

R/V Melville Day 9

Day 9: Question of the day

VISIT- https://sites.google.com/site/mixingatthemargins/ 

for more info and images of our trip

What is your daily schedule like? How many marine animals have you seen? How fast does the ship travel? -Edith Rosas

When do you drop the machine in the water? what does it do? -Steve Garret

What is the temperature out there and in the ocean? Have you started the Styrofoam cup experiment? -Lupe Rangel

-My daily schedule consist of waking up at about 1 pm, doing a quick workout, shower and get ready, then i will head up to the main lab, prepare my station, and go get breakfast. After that i will work, help out where i can, and start my daily blog. Then dinner time! and after at about 1830 (6:30) we have a science chat in the main lab. After our chat i will go to my room, change into my rain or work gear, and head back up. At 8:00 pm my shift starts and we perform CDT casting. My shift ends at 4:00 am and i am in bed at around 5:00 am. resting up to do it all over again. 

-I have seen a ton of marine animals, everything from bait fish to whales!! Some of the more memorable ones would have to be the HUGE sperm and blue whales, the sun fish, sea lions,  Humboldt squid, jellyfish, and probably most memorable the pod of hundreds of pacific white side dolphins!

-The ship has a max speed of about 12 knots ( nautical miles)

- The instrument is in the water 24 hours a day unless we are changing locations. 

-The Instrument measures Conductivity, temperature, and Depth which gives us data on the salinity, and density of the water column. 

-The air temperature is 68 degrees (F) and the water temp at the surface is 57 degrees (F) but there is a strong 30+ knot wind that makes the air feel extremely colder then i actually is.  

-We have not started the styrofoam cup experiment yet, we are waiting to get into deeper water so that it will have a greater effect on the cups 

The Scientist enjoying the sunset

Captain Dave and chief engineer Alex grilling up some delicious steaks for sunday steak dinner

Vanessa Crandell operating the air tugger

Chief scientist Amy Waterhouse and a ADCP float

Myself caught in action

Preparing to deploy the mooring anchor

Chief scientist Amy Waterhouse and scientist Jonathan Nash applying temperature loggers to the mooring line

Bright sunset over the pacific

R/V Melville day 8

Day 8: Question of the day

Do you regret saying yes to go on the trip? Does the boat make a lot of movement? -Darius Hargrove

What has been your favorite part so far? How far from here (San Diego) are you? -Mary Cruz

Have you guys met any new people? What are they like? Where are they from? -LaKendra Palmer

I do not regret it at all! I feel extremely fortunate to have gotten this opportunity and i am taking advantage of every second.

-The ship has not been rocking much, however a storm is on its way, and we plan to have 25+ foot swells with in the next couple of days

-My favorite part has been the whole trip, everything is just so awesome and i am learning so much. I am super grateful to have been offered this amazing opportunity. 

-From San Diego we are about 600 NM (nautical miles). It was a 2 and a half day trip up here. 

-We have met a ton of new people, everyone is so friendly, chill, and a pleasure to be around. People come from all around the world some of these places include; Northern California, Michigan, Florida, Germany, Hungary, United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Philippines, Chile, Oregon, Norway.

Today I was woken up by a random fire drill. We had to go through safety training procedures which included trying on survival suits. 

Julie Alverez and myself in our survival suits

In port at MARFAC what I saw before getting on board

 The bow dome

My jellyfish 

The sun rise over the coast

The view from the bridge

Anchors away

My view from the second deck 

Paul Chua attaching the MMP to the mooring line