Gerhard's Journal: August 23 - Present

September 18, 2005: Thank You

It's the end. And, yet, there is still so much to explain about being on a cruise like this: the fascinating vocabulary used in the science labs; the engine room and the engineering of the ship; the importance of understanding the Southern Ocean and its influences on global ocean circulation; how scientists keep track of the mountains of data they collect; the role of the chief scientist; strategies for enduring "Channel Fever," the intense desire to be back in port and back at home... I would be remiss, however, if the last article was not devoted to grateful thank you's.

Where to begin?

I have to start with my wife, Mary. Without her support and understanding, I would not have had this experience-of-a-lifetime in these Antarctic waters with world class oceanographers. My standard line is, "Being on a cruise like this is like living in a National Geographic magazine article." Our daughters, Colleen and Brigid, also encouraged me to seize this chance.

Next, I must acknowledge the support of Earth and Space Research, specifically, Laurence (Laurie) Padman, Robin Meunch, and Susan Howard. Through a serendipitous set of circumstances, Laurie offered the opportunity to be a team member with Robin on this cruise. I would assist with science operations for ESR and provide public outreach. Susan Howard is responsible for the layout and maintenance of the website. She processed the daily updates sent from the Palmer in addition to keeping up with her regular responsibilities.

Thanks are in order to Miles McPhee, the chief scientist of MaudNESS, who made me feel like one of the science crew despite my lack of oceanographic knowledge. Those thanks are extended to the entire group of NSF grantees and the Raytheon staff for allowing me to participate fully in the science and to ask lots of questions about the day to day activities and the myriad pieces of scientific equipment.

National Science Foundation Grantees and Raytheon Polar Services Company of MaudNESS 2005.


I recognize the flexibility of the Corvallis School District, the staff of Adams Elementary School, and the parents of the students in my 5th Grade class. Missing 2 full weeks of school, especially at the beginning of a year, requires trust and understanding. I look forward to sharing my experiences with the students and school community. Special thanks to Pam Wilson who agreed to be my substitute.

Countless times I was reminded about the professional and hospitable crew of the Nathaniel B. Palmer. I ate well 3 times a day, plus snacks; I visited the bridge many times a day to take in the view and peaceful atmosphere; I enjoyed the benefits of a comfortable room, a warm shower, an exercise room, and entertainment. Thank you, crew of the Palmer.

I appreciate the National Science Foundation's funding of the United States Antarctic Program, and its decision to include public outreach as part of its science mission. I have enjoyed the challenge of explaining what happens on a cruise like this. I look forward to continuing the outreach as I return to my school district, my classroom, and my community. I hope my slides and my stories help spread the word about the important scientific work going on in this polar region.



September 17, 2005: Overview

At the end of a term and the end of the school year, every teacher completes report cards for her/his students. It seems natural to look back on the 8+ weeks at sea and do the same for this cruise. Like any human endeavor, this experiment has its successes and disappointments.

In terms of shear numbers, the scientists gathered lots of data about the ocean, ice, and atmosphere. The CTD made 106 casts over 500 + ocean miles for temperature, salinity, and oxygen data; the Yo-Yo CTD/Profiler made 2600 casts; the Vampire went down 475 times; scientists created numerous ocean and ice models; the various oceanographic masts recorded hundreds of hours of data; dozens of weather balloons were launched; the weather kite flew a half-dozen times; meteorological instruments collected weather information from the ice and ship; and participants recorded pages of ice observations directly from the ice and also from the bridge, every hour, as we steamed from location to location.
The CTD was a workhorse instrument with over 100 casts.


These general successes had specific innovations about which the entire crew can boast:

  • The Palmer was used successfully as a platform for following the drift of an ice floe. A normal rule of thumb in oceanography is 1 line in the water at a time; we often had 5 in at once without a tangle or mishap. (see 8/23 and 8/30) This is a testament to expert planning by the scientists, cooperation of the captain and Raytheon crew, and piloting of the ship.
    Phase III had 11 drift stations, with up to 5 lines in the water.


  • The moonpool operation worked smoothly. A CTD/Profiler and winch were housed in a large metal container van, and the CTD was successfully deployed through a hole in the deck making use of an automated cycling system. (see 8/17)

  • A deep mast, 9 meters in length, was successfully deployed from the bow using a specialized winch, the ship's crane, and the ship's power. In addition, its software was linked to the moonpool's CTD so both instruments could work in tandem. (see 8/17)

  • The Vertical Microstructure Profiler (Vampire) made dozens of casts from the ice and hundreds more from the fantail of the ship. The fantail operation used a specially made platform which allowed the helo hut to sit securely over the open water at the stern. (see 8/16)

  • We took measurements of temperature, salinity, oxygen, and currents upstream and downstream from an iceberg. (see 8/31) Not only was this a first, but it once again showcased the Palmer's maneuverability.

  • Although shortened by numerous cracks, the Phase II ice camp went off without injury or equipment failure. (see 8/11 to 8/14)

    The Phase II ice camp photo by L. de Steur


  • Six Lagrangian floats were sent out to drift with the current and record temperature, salinity, and pressure. They will continue to amass data until January 1, 2006, when they will pop up and send the data to the Applied Physics Lab. (see 8/08)

  • Four ice buoys were set into floes around Maud Rise and transmitted data to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California and back to us on the Palmer. Despite the difficult ice conditions, three are still transmitting data and will continue to do so until the batteries run out or they are crushed by colliding ice floes. (see 8/09)
Floats and buoys continue to record data in the Weddell Sea.


There are successes worth mentioning that are not directly science related. The science crew experienced no injuries and no major equipment damage. The entire crew maintained a congenial atmosphere despite the length of the cruise and the inevitability of being tired and cranky from endless days of intense science or long transits. To a person, individual difficulties didn't surface in day to day interactions; which says a lot about the personal strength of the participants.

Naturally, not everything went as planned. The long list of successes above is balanced by disappointments. In summary, the ocean and the region didn't behave as the scientists thought it might. Historically, Maud Rise has exhibited noteworthy mixing events resulting in massive areas of open water (polynyas) and thin ice concentrations. During this cruise, the ocean conditions were more stable than expected. We lacked the strong winds and extended periods of cold temperatures that the scientists thought might force some strong mixing. Nevertheless, the very stability of the ocean is something of a mystery and further research based on the data and models may reveal something profound about the why the Southern Ocean is the way it is. The scientists' job is to understand the world the way it is, not how they expected it to be.

There are lots of data that need detailed analysis. Something interesting and noteworthy may emerge from this careful examination. The 1994 cruise to Maud Rise, which was a catalyst for this experiment, had similarly unusual and unexpected data as well. While nothing stands out as spectacular right now, some closer looks may reveal answers or even more good questions about the ocean in this region.

It is important to ask why the successes outweigh the disappointments. First, there was excellent planning on the part of the chief scientist, Miles McPhee, and the Principal Investigators. Building on a professional and personal familiarity with each other, the team had common goals. The PI's came to consensus on ship location, duration at a location, and pacing of the different Phases of the cruise. The length of the cruise, almost two months, allowed for occasional down times during which thoughtful decisions could be made about locations, strategies, and logistics. Most cruises are a bit of a pressure cooker in terms of collecting as much data as possible in the short amount of time available, but the lengthy time frame took some of that pressure off.

Secondly, there was an exemplary level of teamwork among the scientists, Raytheon Polar Services Company, and the Palmer crew. From the captain to the engineers to the deckhands, the Palmer crew made a priority of safety and the science mission. The Raytheon technicians provided 24 hour a day support for the scientists' activities. The science crew worked in their own groups and volunteered with other teams to make sure operations continued.

Without question, this cruise and the research that will follow from it will improve our ability to model the ocean and its sea ice cover. It will also improve our understanding of fundamental physical processes which apply in any ocean. The data have already spurred these scientists into discussing new ways to understand the Weddell Sea. At the same time, innovative methods that have been developed on the N.B. Palmer for gathering data in harsh winter conditions are now available for future research. Overall... a very productive cruise.



September 14, 2005

Eight weeks ago, we moved on to the ship and it became home. Being a long way from home, and especially being away from home for a long time, little things make a big difference toward feeling comfortable. Because food is such a basic need, meals become one of those little things.

Silverio Nestor, Steward, in his kitchen kingdom.


I look forward to every meal on this ship. Breakfast and Midrats (midnight rations) is like walking into your favorite coffee shop AND your own kitchen. From the hot stuff on the line, to the choice of cereals, to the variety of fruits and fruit drinks, it's a great way to start the day or start the late shift.

Lorenzo monitors the breakfast line: eggs, rice, egg-filled muffins, french toast, meats, oatmeal, grits, biscuits and gravy, and cornbread.


Lunch and dinners are, in my humble opinion, feasts. In one meal I can count on more variety than my wife and I make in an entire week: beans and rice (our favorite at home), fish or meat or poultry (quite a luxury), another rice dish or a delectable pasta (even that would be enough), at least two vegetables (very heart-healthy), a hearty soup, bread, salads, a grocery store aisle of condiments, and dessert (I don't even want to get started describing the desserts).

Typical lunch: Soup in the distance, rice and beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey and cranberry sauce, lasagna, plenty of veggies, and rolls.


Ali and Luciano preside over a dinner offering: soup, rice and beans, steak, Spanish rice, roasted potatoes, cauliflower, corn, calzones.


Even if we need something to tide us over until the next meal, the galley is a clean and welcoming place full of nuts, chips, fruit, popcorn, crackers, cheese, yogurt, bread, peanut butter and jelly, leftover breakfast breads, leftover desserts (don't get me started), fruit drinks, soft drinks, teas, hot chocolate, and coffee.

OK. The desserts. I work in a school where the staff benefits from kind and generous parents who know that a well-timed treat can smooth out a rough day, or make a good day even better. Even my colleagues are generous with sharing healthy, or not so healthy, snacks. The stewards on the Palmer have outdone even those folks: lemon meringue pie, cherry pie, peach pie, blueberry pie, apple pie, apple turnovers, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, double chocolate chip and nuts cookies, sugar cookies, molasses cookies, caramel filled cookies, chocolate pudding, vanilla pudding, bread pudding, caramel baklava, chocolate cake, lemon cake, Black Forest cake, birthday cakes, cheesecake, pound cake, bundt cake, strawberry shortcake, jelly roll cake, pineapple-upside-down cake, blueberry cobbler, flan, brownies, Rocky Road brownies, granola bars, pecan bars, apricot nut bars, fruit filled breads, applesauce bread, banana bread, ice cream, flavored syrups, sugar donuts, and glazed donuts.
John peruses the ample dessert counter: banana bread, brownies, cookies, pie, and leftover cake in the shelves.


OK, OK. It isn't home cooking. Actually, I'd venture to say it is better. The food is made fresh daily, given the limitations of using canned and frozen items (no grocery stores this far out!). In addition, the science party has shopping, cooking, set-up, and clean-up taken care of. About the only thing we're missing is the company of family and friends from home.

Our biggest concern is not eating well enough, it's eating too much! Bon apetit!



September 13, 2005

Backgrounds of Science Party: ...

What does it take to be part of an Antarctic oceanographic research cruise? I asked the NSF grantees and RPSC staff (30 people in total) to describe their academic histories and professional backgrounds. Although this cruise was entirely devoted to Physical Oceanography, there is still a wide range of skills required to carry out all tasks. This is reflected in the diverse academic credentials and the fields of study for these 30 participants, as shown below.

I received many comments about the qualifications for a cruise like this. The most important factors for each participant are a willingness to work hard, think creatively, problem solve thoughtfully, and take every opportunity to learn new ideas and skills. Attending college is one approach to acquiring some of these skills. The scientists responsible for designing the experiment and obtaining funding for it have higher degrees from university (MS and PhD). These degrees recognize: the scientists' skill in understanding what has already been learned in their field; their ability to pose new and significant questions; and to collect and analyze the data required to answer these questions.

These investigators depend, however, on colleagues and support staff with the academic and technical skills required to build, fix, and deploy complex equipment, and to create specialized computer programs to control the equipment and analyze the data. The participants on this cruise include people with skills in electronics, computer programming and systems management, and mechanics. And, if we get sick or have an accident at sea, we need emergency medical technicians.

Our cruise is staffed with intelligent, hardworking, and creative people reflected in the graphs below, and most importantly, in the successful day-to-day operations of this experiment.



FIELD OF STUDY

AMOUNT

Analytical Chemistry

1

Applied Math

4

Biology

2

Business/Economics

2

Computer Science

1

Diving Instructor Certification

2

Education

1

Electronic Technician

2

Emergency Medical Technician

3

Engineering, Aerospace

1

Engineering, Chemical

1

Engineering, Civil

1

Engineering, Electrical

2

Engineering, Geological

1

Geophysics

3

Geosciences

2

History

1

Liberal Arts

1

Management Information Systems

1

Marine Science

2

Meteorology

3

Physical Oceanography

11

Physics

8

Radar Technician

1

Theater Arts

1

U.S. Coast Guard Masters License

3







September 12, 2005

To all on the NBP, September 5, 2005

Want to try your luck at driving the ship in the ice? Conditions permitting, Rachelle will work with anyone that's interested in having a little fun at the wheel. We'll do it as long as there's good ice and we're on schedule so if you're interested, head to the bridge any time between 1300 & 1500 after the end of science and ask to have a go. Don't wait too long as we'll probably only have about 3 days or so in the ice. Depending on how many people are interested, we'll limit your wheeltime to around 15 or 20 minutes. Have fun. . .

Regards, Capt Mike

How about that? Just when I thought life couldn't get any more interesting than the past 6 weeks of doing science in Antarctic sea ice, the captain invited us to drive a 308 foot, 15,000,000 pound ship. The line formed very quickly.

Bill Shaw gets a turn steering with Rachelle Pagtalunan of Edison Chouest mentoring him.
Jim Stockel is at the helm with plenty of backseat drivers waiting their turn.


It's both easier and harder than you'd think. It's easy because you simply turn a little handle connected to the rudder. A slight push away from you and the boat heads to port. Another slight pull toward you and the ship turns toward starboard. Very small motions on the handle result in this huge ship changing course.

The hard part is watching everything else besides the steering. The Master must control the speed of the ship, the pitch of the propeller, keep an eye on the radar, account for the wind direction and wind speed, answer questions that come to the bridge, record the ship's position, be aware of the science going on, and maintain an effective course. When the ship plies through the ice, the Master must also negotiate the best path. This is a time when you want thin ice! To do that, she/he must look off into the distance, not just immediately in front of the bow, deciding how to avoid the thickest ice. It requires looking at the radar, consulting with satellite images of the ice, and lots of experience.

The view from the bridge: find open water or thin ice, and don't hit the iceberg.


As you can imagine, we only did the easier part; and even that proved to be enough. Guest drivers steered the ship for 20-30 minutes and quickly appreciated the diligence a Master must have. It's like driving very fast on a crowded freeway. You have to pay attention all the time, and that becomes tiring.

We thank Rachelle Pagtalunan and Capt. Mike Watson for the lessons on driving and the chance to experience it for ourselves.

PS. Today, one week later, we are fighting 40-50 knot winds and pushing our way through waves between 15 and 25 feet high. We are even more thankful for the experienced crew.

We've traded the bow crunching through ice for the bow plowing through the waves.



September 11, 2005

The Marine Projects Coordinator, Raytheon Polar Services Company, is the person behind everything that happens on a project like this, much like a General Contractor oversees all aspects of a home construction.

The MPC is.....

  • in charge of all the Raytheon Polar Services personnel (see 8/27-8/29) on board including shift assignments and assigning RPSC support personnel to the chief scientist/grantees.

  • a collaborator, with the captain, for all services provided by the Palmer such as navigating the ship, crane operators, room assignments, and meals.

  • in charge of the proper labeling, offloading, and shipping of all grantee and RPS cargo, including equipment and samples.

  • travel agent and logistics representative for NSF grantees and Raytheon personnel as they travel from the US, through Chile or New Zealand, to the Antarctic.

  • responsible, along with the Captain, for deciding if sea state, ice conditions or other safety-related factors warrant shutting down operations until the condition improves. (see 8/18)

  • a contributor to the decsions regarding dates for the end of science. With the captain and the chief scientist, the MPC makes sure that the ship returns to port on time to prepare for the next cruise.

  • the individual to ask is if you are unsure about something. He or she will tell you what to do, get the answer for you, or point you to the person who can help.



Karl Newyear is the MPC on this cruise, and yes, he does all those things listed above. I hesitate to use this descriptor, but he is our "cruise director," however, not the kind to schedule karaoke or bingo. He uses writing, organizational, planning, record keeping, negotiating, and personnel management skills to ensure that the scientists, RPSC staff, and Palmer crew work together. This requires being part travel agent, shipping agent, scheduling specialist, safety specialist, scientist, report writer, concierge, and personnel manager.

Karl confers with Rick Lichtenan about operations on the decks.


Karl's background includes a Bachelor in Physics and Marine Science, with a Masters and PhD in Physical Oceanography. While most of the work does not require his academic background, having trained as a scientist makes him even more valuable to this cruise. Another valuable asset is Karl's work ethic. Like his staff and the scientists, he contributes long hours when the science work is in full swing, and he will be the first to do some of the not-so-glamorous jobs. You can find him patrolling the work sites to ensure safe conditions and adequate personnel, chipping ice off the decks, pushing ice out of the way of instruments, or helping with ice observations. Karl is a soft-spoken leader. His quiet confidence and clear communication skills make him a pleasure to work with.

Karl consults with the Principal Investigators on the bridge as they look for solid ice during Phase II.



September 9, 2005

Not everything that happens on the ship is heavy duty science. In previous logs (Aug. 1, 6, 20) you can read about the diversions in which people indulge to engage their minds in a different way, to keep their bodies fit, and to lift their spirits.

A fun break in the action happened during the last week of August as we planned a 3000 meter CTD (8/3) cast. In 1994, another cruise surveyed water in this same area. As a courtesy to those scientists, and because of the curiosity in these scientists, we repeated this deep cast. Going down to 3000 meters was not the novelty, however, since many CTD casts go much, much further. It's what else we sent down that made this cast memorable.

Besides the CTD rosette, its sensors, and its Niskins bottle to collect water, the Marine Techs attached three bags filled with Styrofoam cups. Now, before you call the United States Antarctic Program and claim we have broken the Antarctic Treaty and International Marine Law, please know these cups were well secured in their bags and this exercise had been done may time before.

The CTD rosette brought the cups to 3,000 meters (almost 10,000ft) below sea level.


At 3000 meters, the ocean's pressure is enough to crush the cups by squeezing most of the air out of them. If the pressure is exerted evenly and there are not too many other cups directly in the way, you get a miniaturized version of the original. They are very cute.

Knowing this was a possibility, I brought about 200 cups from the 3rd and 4th graders at Adams Elementary School in Corvallis. The students designed their own cup with some direction from the art teacher, Donna Jepson-Minyard. On the ship, many of the science and ship's crew took a little time to decorate a cup or two.

The before line up of cups from Adams Elementary, Corvallis, OR.




The before line up of cups from the ship's participants.


The process is a little like putting clay sculptures in a kiln. There is no guarantee about what you'll get back. Our results, however, were great. A few odd shapes emerged, but nearly every cup came out intact and shrunken proportionally.

The after shot of cups from Adams.


They become keepsakes for participants, family, and friends. For the students at Adams, hopefully, they will be a reminder of the pressure exerted by over two vertical miles of ocean water and of their teacher spending his summer vacation at sea.



September 7, 2005

I suppose if you watch anyone at their job, teacher, lawyer, health professional, parent, craftsman, artist, you'll notice a wide array of skills and traits. After watching scientists at their job and talking to them about their careers over the past 7 weeks, I am in awe of the breadth of their abilities. You probably know someone who has these qualities, too.

Curiosity. I believe this is their most important trait. Questions, and questioning, drive these men and women deeper and deeper into their field of study, and spur on the energy necessary to propose, plan, and execute a cruise like this. It's not enough to know what the current does; they look at the microstructure of the current: what's happening in pockets of 1-2 centimeters. It's not enough to know a huge polyna (an opening in the sea ice) occurred here in the 1970's; they want to know why and how it happened, and if it might happen again. This curiosity drives more analysis, the creation of better instruments, and the design of more elaborate studies. Scientists are life-long learners as they explore their field.

Curiosity drove the iceberg experiment, measuring the water upstream and downstream from the berg.


Objectivity. Scientists have to believe in what's there, not in what they hope will happen. It's tempting, as humans, to look for what you are hoping to find, to confirm what you already thought. This group has to have the objectivity to deal honestly with the data. If you hypothesize finding certain ocean temperatures or salinity, and they don't materialize, then that's what you've got.

Flexibility. Each Principal Investigator needs to roll with whatever comes up. Bad weather, misbehaving sensors, malfunctioning equipment, unstable ice conditions, extreme cold, and computer glitches can, and will, surface. Making the best of a situation, improvising a new strategy, and patiently solving the problem are the only ways to deal with these surprises; the scientists must deal with these situations coolly and rationally.

Problem Solving. Mentioned above as a sign of flexibility, scientists have numerous opportunities to unravel a mess. Peter Guest, the meteorologist, couldn't explain why his radiosonde, the instrument attached to his balloons, wouldn't record data in the beginning of the flight. With careful thought and questioning, he found out the ship's radar interfered with his instrument, and when the ship turned its radar off for 10 minutes...problem solved. ESR's Vampire wouldn't reliably sent data back to the computer. Laurie and Robin traced the problem back to a bad section of cable, which they terminated. Over and over, the scientists exhibit the ability to work through a problem step by step.

Mike Ohmart and Dirk Notz problem solve programming glitches in a RAFOS float.


Patience, Perseverance, Stamina. It's cold. Weather and ocean conditions are unpredictable. The instruments are heavy, complex, sensitive, and awkward. Those are not excuses to take short cuts. A scientist has to painstakingly calibrate the instrument to make sure it records accurate data. A scientist has to watch a screen for hours to make sure an instrument doesn't malfunction or to look for changing characteristics. A scientist has to connect, disconnect, and reconnect the many parts of a device to prepare it for deployments. A scientist has to pour over hundreds of files of present and past data to look for trends or clues of what's happening.

It's tough work designing a device, and then deploying it during the Antarctic winter. photo by Rick Lichtenan


Trust. The goals of the cruise are lofty. The instruments are expensive and complex. The quantities of data are mountainous. But no one can work all day, every day, at least for very long. Each Principal Investigator has a team of people he/she relies on to keep things running. Laurie has to trust that each person will work carefully with the $100,000 Vampire. Tim has to trust that each person will watch the progress of the Yo-Yo CTD. Miles has to trust that the ship's leadership is watching ice conditions. Ramsey has to trust that he receives reliable data with which to work his models.

Gadget Lover. This kind of person is mechanically or electronically inclined. She/he can tinker with things that don't work, or that could work better. This person is not afraid to open something up and look inside. Invariably, a scientist like this takes her/his study to the technological edge, inventing new ways to measure more accurately, or pushing a manufacturer to provide more.

Computer Whiz. This probably takes little explanation. They know the hardware, they understand the software, they can access, process, program, download, format, fileshare, convert, back-up, and manipulate the computer like an artist can wield a brush and paints. Each of these scientists speaks the many languages of a computer and can pump out documents, programs, subroutines, patches, overrides, graphs, tables, charts, maps, diagrams, video, slides, and animation.

Communicator. On this cruise, the scientists must collaborate clearly and effectively with the Palmer crew, the Raytheon employees, their team, and each other. That happens in face to face conversations and writing. Where we position the ship, how to safely deploy a mast, determining the state of ice conditions, and the efficient use of personnel; the scientists have to articulate what they need and come to agreement, or compromise, about these many daily issues. Off the ship, each scientist needs to be an effective collaborator, writer, and speaker in order to share findings, secure funding, and maintain professional contacts.

Miles McPhee has led the curious, intelligent, cooperative, and hard working science crew.


Small Business Owner. This one shocked me. Many of us think that a PhD has it made: teach, do some research, and write a few articles. These folks are as entrepreneurial as a Silicon Valley startup. Most oceanographers rely on grants for all or part of their income, and also for their assistants and lab personnel. That means they are in a constant cycle of writing proposals, establishing and keeping to a budget, managing personnel, analyzing data, working on equipment, publishing articles (this costs the scientist!), and attending conferences.

Intelligent. Whoops, almost forgot that one. Obviously, a person has to know their thermobaricity from their cabbeling; one needs to understand instabilities in the pycnocline and entrainment in the upper mixed layer. Each of these scientists works at the highest level of math, physics, and oceanographic concepts. If you ever hear the lament, "But when I am ever going to use this stuff I learn in school?" tell that a person a scientist uses all that stuff.

These are the kind of people that are exciting and interesting to be around.



September 6, 2005

School starts today in many districts, or has started recently. I have the great fortune to participate in this oceanography cruise. The only downside to being here is that I miss my home, family and the exciting beginning of school. My substitute for the next two weeks, Pam Wilson, has taught 5th Grade for 16 years, so the students may be in better hands than if I were there!

Here's a short message about what I have learned on this cruise that has to do with school:

Forget what anyone has ever said about how stupid something might seem...you will use almost everything you do in school in "the real world." Working with scientists and the ship's crew this summer has taught me that lesson once again.

Science. We might as well start with the obvious one. Even these world class scientists use basic science and social science skills. They rely on knowledge about the physical properties of water such as density and temperature; the chemical properties of water; how weather forms; climate patterns; how to use simple machines like a pulley or ramp; how sound travels; basic electricity and electrical components; geology; geography and map reading...all things we begin in elementary school.

The daily bulletin board: maps, graphs, charts, weather information.


Math. Maybe this one is obvious, too, but often is the source for the comment, "When am I ever going to use this stuff?" Every day I see the science crew making and reading graphs; looking for patterns; performing calculations with adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing; creating and solving advanced problems with geometry, algebra, and calculus; recording and conversing in metric units (yes...metric!); making estimations and using probability skills. All these skills, except the calculus, begin in a K-6 school.
Math is a powerful tool in this business.


Writing. This one, literally, puts food on the table for the scientist. Most science work, cruises included, happens only if a scientist, or a group of scientists, writes a proposal for money. The proposal has to be well thought out, clearly written, and to the point. No one will take a proposal seriously unless that person, or group, has written research articles and published papers proving their expertise. These men and women organize their thoughts before writing, write rough drafts, revise, and edit. Sound familiar? Even on the ship, excellent writing skills are essential to the success of daily work: writing instructions, passing on information, completing progress reports, and corresponding with colleagues back home. And yes, spelling counts!
Writing is a key skill for scientists...for anyone.


Reading. Textbooks and professional articles are scattered all over the lab and can be found in each computers' reference section. Each scientist must also read the latest research to find out what who is doing what in their fields. They must read carefully to understand the information it contains, but they must also read it critically to decide how they feel about the information. This may be a bit of a stretch, but the most interesting people on the ship are also the ones who have read widely. They know the latest from an oceanography journal, but they can also speak intelligently about the last 3 or 4 novels they have read, too.

Computer. This may be another obvious one. Each scientist speaks many computer languages and can work on many computer systems. Unix, Linux, Solaris, Windows, and Apple systems run on the ship. Programming skills are essential, from simple programs like PowerPoint presentations, to Adobe Acrobat, to the high powered, number crunching Matlab. By the way, scoring lots of points at computer games isn't that helpful. Using the computer as a tool to process your creative and critical thinking is.

Speaking. To survive in this science world, a person has to know how to communicate clearly and effectively with coworkers and professional colleagues. I don't hear "like" or too many "you knows" in a conversation. Using precise vocabulary, getting to the point, being persuasive without being pushy, knowing how to phrase good questions and come up with clear answers...these skills are necessary in one-to-one conversations and in front of a group. Yes...scientists use public speaking skills all the time.

Physical Fitness. A scientist needs to lift, push, pull, carry, twist, turn, handle the cold, stay healthy, fight sleepiness, and have some endurance in all these physical tasks to be successful. This requires a fit body.

Art. A sense of wonder and an appreciation for beauty are not extras. If a person can't marvel at the textures and colors of the ice, stand in awe of sunsets and sunrises, and admire the grace and comedy of a visiting penguin, then that person is not cut out for the scientific life. They are a talented crew of photographers, and at the very least, enjoy pouring over good photos.

Appreciating the endless beauty is a requirement.


The non-academic traits that schools and parents teach are just as important. Tomorrow I will elaborate, but there are a few that stand out right away. Respect for one another is at the top of the list. The scientists treat each other and the ship's crew the way they'd like to be treated. Working Safely is a top priority; taking shortcuts with safety is NOT cool. Yes, we practice fire drills, and yes, we have to dress appropriately for the weather and deck conditions. Being Responsible means no one has to constantly check up on you; you do what you're supposed to do (kind of like class work, homework, studying). Everyone expects you to deliver your Personal Best because no one likes working with a slacker. Finally, this is a group of Problem Solvers. Whining doesn't get things done; working creatively and intelligently will. My guess is students have heard teachers and parents talk about these behaviors.

Getting along with others and sharing ideas counts for a lot. Laurie Padman, Jim Stockel, Bill Shaw. photo by Laura de Steur


The last thing worth mentioning sums up all the above: every member of the science party accepts the excitement and challenge of being a life-long learner. Never stop learning how to learn. So, pay attention! Try hard! Work together! Be nice! They all count.



September 5, 2005

On August 1st, 6th, and 20th, I wrote about the diversions we pursue in our ship life and the little things that make ship life spectacular and enjoyable. Today's thoughts describe the other side of ship life: the things that, through no one's fault, make us think of our own beds, our homes, our families, and our normal routines.

In alphabetical order...not in order of importance...

  • Breaks...The bow thruster went out, which made the ship less maneuverable for drift stations. One of the four engines quit, which means a slightly slower ride home. There are no hardware stores just around the corner.

  • Dressing...Because of frigid temperatures and windy conditions, it takes a while to get dressed to go outside. It is smartest to dress in layers, which requires a little extra time and makes one feel like the Michelin Man.
    Kristin and Gerhard model the lastest in bundling up.

  • Dry Ship...Yes, there is low humidity on the ship so lips chap and static electricity builds up on synthetic clothing. There is also no alcohol on the ship, and a glass of wine with dinner or a bit of beer with a tasty meal would compliment the delicious food.

  • Exercise...Thank god for the gym and all its machines. Nevertheless, I think each of us would trade a week of fitness to run on a trail, bike on a scenic road, walk a nature path, row on real water, or hang with a regular workout partner.

  • Food...I'll be the first to admit the food is great, but, it was disappointing when the lettuce ran out, the tomatoes ended, the cabbage finished, and the bananas and pears vanished. Miraculously, we still have fresh oranges, apples, and grapefruit.

  • Icy Decks, Icy Temps...It's beautiful outside, but the decks are full of ice so one has to walk gingerly, and it's always some temperature way below freezing so staying out for extended periods is a bit uncomfortable (despite bundling up...see Dressing!).
    Icy decks and frigid temperatures are beautiful, but can be a hassle. photo by Laura de Steur

  • Loneliness...Even with 54 people on the ship, there are bouts of longing for significant others; those with whom we'd like to share the scenic landscape, stunning sunrises and sunsets, scientific successes, work frustrations, leisure time...

  • Noises...They are everywhere: engines, fans, generators, the sonar's "chirps" which map the ocean floor, closing doors, the engine room horn (it's too loud for them to hear a phone ringing), ice scraping on the hull, fire alarm drills, equipment being moved around, winches, footsteps on a stairway or in a hallway...

    Engines everywhere! This one is next to my room. Noise is inescapable.

  • Pitch and Roll...During the 5 weeks in the Weddell Sea's ice, the ship was mostly rock solid. Getting here and getting back, however, means riding the waves of the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Seasickness can be an issue, but simply walking, showering, dressing, eating, sleeping, typing, reading, and exercising can pose challenges when the ship is in motion.

  • Smells...There are plenty of good ones once you walk into the galley, but others can irritate: paint, a sewer backup, second hand cigarette smoke from designated smoking areas, engine fumes out on the deck...

  • Work...It's what brought us here. But it's always there as a temptress or unconquerable demon. There is an unspoken pressure to utilize this unique situation and this floating lab to get more data, process more data, and write about the data. In a culture where professionals always exceed 40 hours a week, the ship culture lures one into 60-70-80 hour weeks due to the lack of a "weekend" or the trappings of normal life.
    Robin and Sheldon watch a 5300 meter CTD cast. Work always beckons.


These are some of the "not-so-cruise-like" aspects of our cruise. But as Laurie Padman suggests, our memories are selective, and we tend to keep the best experiences in the forefront of our brain, conveniently forgetting the little annoyances.



September 4, 2005

The heavy duty science part of our cruise is coming to an end. Hard to believe.

We are finishing the 11th drift station in Phase III. (see 8/23 and 8/30)). During these drifts, the ship has lodged up against an ice floe with a "lake" of open water on our starboard side and stern. Up to four instruments have been deployed in the water collecting data while we drift with the floe.

The Deep Frame was one of three masts deployed during the Phase III drifts and Phase II ice camp.


Phase II was an ice camp in which the same four instruments were deployed through holes in the ice, and once again, we took data as we drifted with the ice. The meteorological mast and kite flying added to the experiments on the ice. Finally, a pair of scientists took a variety of measurements directly from the ice and snow. (see 8/11))

During Phase II the ice was our work space.


Phase I, which seems like a long time ago, encompassed a 10 day stretch of CTD's. These casts recorded temperature and salinity measurements to a depth of 700 meters at almost 90 spots, covering over 500 nautical miles. (see 8/3 and 8/4))

The CTD was the star of Phase I, taking meausrements for over a week.


For the next two weeks, the ship's main task is to get back to Punta Arenas, Chile, plowing through sea ice and steaming against the prevailing winds. We will do a few more deep CTD casts to obtain comparison data for CTD casts that were done in the previous decade.

A few observations, fresh from finishing up a month of intense science work:

Teamwork makes a difference. Each Principal Investigator has had to coordinate his experiment's needs with those of the others, which means sharing the ship's space, ship resources, and Raytheon Tech services. In addition, the team working with that scientist has had to work together in order to assemble instruments, get them to function, to acquire data, and to process data. This requires volunteers to maintain a 24 hour watch schedule, for example Laura de Steur donated 8 hours a day to the Vampire operation. Raytheon techs provided needed muscle, expertise, and safety for every operation.

Frequent meetings among scientists help maintain cooperation and keep the science going.


Perseverance is a requirement. The 4 hour watches come and go, day in and day out. The equipment has to be set up and taken down, over and over. Data have to be monitored for quality and the instruments have to be supervised, relentlessly. No weekends or nights off in this situation.

The Vampire caused initial troubles, but the team completed over 450 casts during Phases II and III.
Yo-Yo CTD/microprofiler made over 1000 casts in the moonpool while were in Phase II and III.


Mild weather shocked us. Certainly, it's been cold. This is the Antarctic in late winter, after all. But we've had tame winds for this time of year and this stretch of ocean. Two nights ago, not a ripple could be found on the open water in our starboard side lake. Storms have been few and far between as well, with only one or two short delays due to horrible conditions.

Banter about home increases on a daily basis. Crew members share thoughts about the people they'll see, the foods they'll eat, and the places they'll go when they return.

A different kind of work starts now. The focus shifts to writing papers, preparing for publications, planning for conferences, getting organized for meetings...all to disseminate the data and the experience of MaudNESS. There is also the business of packing up. Tools, instruments, and supplies have to be crated, stowed, and accounted for. We resume ice observations (see 7/31) until we exit the sea ice. It is the beginning of the end.



September 2, 2005

With the sophistication of the oceanographic instruments, it's tempting to imagine that these scientists simply toss their devices overboard and happily watch the data stream in to their perfectly formatted computers. Unfortunately, the more sophisticated the device, the more there is to go wrong and the more outside events can affect your experiments. There are lots of ways to have "a bad science day."

  • On the ice buoys (8/09), water crept into a pipe that held a string of thermistors (delicate, electronic thermometers)causing random interruptions in data transmissions.

  • The pressure sensor on the CTD (8/04) recorded incorrect depths during the first casts.

  • The radiosonde package (records and reports atmospheric data on the balloons [8/02] and kites) would not work in the first couple of hundred meters.

  • The $40,000 Lagrangian float (8/08), once deployed, didn't descend properly. No one will know until January 1, when it is scheduled to resurface, if it worked correctly.

  • Five experiments were set up directly on the sea ice (8/11), using holes in the ice to access the ocean. Then...the ice cracked in multiple locations around the site.
    The beautiful sunrise also brought bring science-ending openings in the ice.


  • A weather balloon popped, for no apparent reason, after rising 150 meters.

  • The electronic conductors on a winch which deliver information from the winch to a computer were damaged during the shipping process.

  • A combination of 110 V generator power, 220 V generator power, and ship's power to run Vampire caused electronic glitches in winch controls and gathering data.

  • Winds were so strong that instruments could not be deployed.

  • Winds were so light that expected conditions for currents and ice drift didn't materialize.

  • A thermometer used to measure ice temperatures (8/19) recorded bad data.

  • Too little ice to safely establish a temporary ice camp.(8/15)

  • Too much ice to safely deploy instruments. (8/23)
    New and encroaching ice has curtailed some Phase III drift stations.


  • The transducer couldn't find the transponder on a Lagrangian float, so the scientists couldn't track its progress as planned.

  • The ship lost its bow thruster, basically a propeller in the front of the ship to enable the ship to make very slight adjustments in its position.

  • A delicate temperature sensor broke, and a current sensor reported unreliable data.

  • Computer programs meant to process data, or control a winch, crashed.
Bill Shaw, Jim Stockel, and Laurie discuss a computer issue, or maybe what's for dinner.


The most sobering of all is the oceanographer's ultimate reality check, and I've heard this more than once: You have to be prepared to lose everything once you've put an instrument into the water. There are no guarantees.

Many of these problems get solved, which is a testament to the science crew's attitude and abilities. No one takes a setback as a permanent defeat. It's an opportunity, even though it's a pain, to find a solution. Ultimately the problem provides a lesson learned which is then applied to future situations. For instance, the pressure sensor was removed, replaced, and repaired. The damaged electronic conductors on the winch were discovered and repaired. The radiosonde worked once the ship's radar was turned off for a 15 minute period after balloon or kite launch. The Vampire's electronic issues were solved using a common ground for all the electronic devices. The multi-talented scientists rewrote, or patched, non-functioning programs.
Anders Sirevaag, Miles McPhee, and Eric Hutt tinker with the middle mast.
Mike Ohmart splices a broken cable.


Other issues require strong doses of patience and flexibility because nothing can be done about them: weather, ice conditions, broken parts which are unfixable at sea.

Life at sea can be a lot like life at home. Anyone can have a bad day, and it's how we respond to them that show us who we really are.



September 1, 2005

If you read the daily log for August 30, you already know a little about icebergs and that we did some measurements upstream and downstream of MaudBerg (as we lovingly call it now).
Maudberg, Aug. 31, from the deck. photo by Laura de Steur

Here is more information for you to ponder.

  • They are often referred to as bergs, for short.

  • Icebergs form when pieces of a glacier or an ice shelf break off. That is called calving. A glacier is a very slow moving river ice made from compacted snow. When the glacier reaches the ocean, sections break off, or calve. Off the coast of Antarctica, these glaciers can flow to the sea and stay together to form a huge ice shelf. Many Antarctic icebergs calve from huge ice shelves surrounding the continent.

  • The largest ice shelves, Ross, Filchner, Ronne, and Amery, go on for hundreds of kilometers in each direction. The icebergs that calve from them have been measured at 40 km by 100 km.(@ 25 miles by 65 miles)

  • 65-70% of the world's fresh water is frozen in the ice sheets that cover and surround Antarctica. The ice sheets average 2,000 meters (6,500 ft) depth. The deepest section is 4,500 meters (14, 700 feet) of ice!

  • The area around Baffin Bay between Canada and Greenland is known as Iceberg Alley because there are so many bergs. They travel up the west coast of Greenland and down the coast of Baffin Island on the Baffin Current, and past Labrador and Newfoundland on the Labrador Current. This area is the source of the iceberg that sunk the Titanic. Few ships travel in the Antarctic iceberg paths.

  • The ice must be 5 meters (15 feet) above the surface of the water to be considered an iceberg. Ice that is less than 5 meters high is called a bergy bit, which is the size of a house. If it less than 1 meter high, it is called a growler, which is the size of a grand piano.

    Iceberg sizes
    Iceberg names

    charts courtesy of Canadian Ice Service

  • There are different types, sizes, and names of icebergs. See the charts and pictures.
    Melting, but still beautiful

  • 80-90% of an iceberg's mass (not its dimensions) is underwater. The ice above sea level is the sail. The part is part below is the draft.

  • Icebergs are 100% fresh water because they come from glaciers, which are compacted snow.

  • In some places around the world, you can buy iceberg water as a way to drink very pure water.

  • The term iceberg probably comes from the Dutch ijsberg, which means ice hill.

  • Iceberg ice cubes will pop in a drink as they let out trapped, compressed gas.

  • Icebergs melt because of the suns rays, wind and wave erosion, and the warmer ocean waters around them.

  • In the language of Canada's indigenous population, Inuktitut, an iceberg is a piqaluyuq (pick-a-loo-yuk)
Our first big one in early August. photo by Laura de Steur


August 31, 2005

Sometimes it's convenient to start with a quote from the chief, chief scientist Miles McPhee: "...there is a sizable iceberg about 9.5 miles SW on the way and Jamie has suggested we change to MaudBERG for a short time. The strategy would be to uncork the moonpool downwind (upstream) of the berg for some ground truth, then move into position in its upwind wake to see if we can detect any differences. As far as I know this has never been done before and we have instrumentation that makes it feasible."

Who says a group of scientists can't be spontaneous and have a little fun?

As I write, we are within 500 meters of an iceberg the size of a pro basketball arena. The beast is impressive in its own right. It's also the tallest thing we've seen in weeks. Using the ship's radar and some high school math, we calculated roughly 30 meters (10 stories) of height and 175 meters of width, and that's only the above water part. There were more cameras on the decks than a Paris fashion show. Antarctic paparazzi.

A beautiful view from this side.
The opposite side is also stunning, with some magnificent clouds.


A current is flowing under the surrounding sea ice and this picturesque iceberg. The scientists have measured the waters on the upstream side of the iceberg and the downstream side, using the CTD/microstructure instrument that is deployed out of the moonpool in the deck. This device measures temperature, salinity, pressure, and turbulence (those small vertical and horizontal flows of water within the current). By measuring the before and after properties, the team will get a picture of how the iceberg affects all these ocean characteristics.

Big deal? Maybe. Maybe not. Sea ice, because of its large surface area, moves in response to the forces of the wind, usually at 20-30o to the left of the wind's direction and at 3.2% of the wind's speed. Icebergs, because of their huge underwater mass, flow mainly with the current. Therefore, as it flows with the current, the massive iceberg cuts a swath of open water in the ice while the sea ice moves with the wind. This creates huge leads (openings) in the ice, up to 100 km with big bergs.
Iceberg schematic


Icebergs have a core temperature of about -20oC and ocean water is about -1.6oC. This huge temperature difference forces heat out of the water and melts the iceberg (albeit, slowly) adding fresh water to the ocean. Could the iceberg's thrashing through the ice and its deposition of fresh water be important? It's certainly a good question, and that's what scientists do, ask and try to answer good questions.

Why not get any closer? First, as most people know, 7/8 of the iceberg is underwater, and although this ship is an icebreaker, it is not an iceberg-breaker, so we keep a respectful distance. Think Titanic. Secondly, a chunk of the iceberg could calve (fall off). Even a relatively small piece of this monstrous mass of ice could damage the ship, so, better to maintain that respectful difference.

A trio of bergs.
A beautiful iceberg, and a beautiful dusk.


Icebergs are often temporary homes to groups of penguins and birds. They are convenient places to rest, to find shelter from wind, and to find food (usually krill). Today, they provided some scientific and scenic excitement.



August 30, 2005

It's hard to think of a 6,500 ton ship and 4 major installations of oceanographic equipment as "nimble," to quote Tim Stanton, but that's exactly what we're attempting.

Phase Three of this cruise was designed to drift with the ice and sample many different areas in a section of Maud Rise, looking for the conditions that signal massive ocean mixing. About a week ago, I made the analogy to looking for a needle in a haystack with an excellent metal detector. You might also think of this as a family camping adventure in which every 12-36 hours we arrive at a planned destination, explore, and then pack up and head somewhere new and exciting.

The ship and science crew continue to perfect this dance of ship, instruments, personnel, weather, and ocean conditions. When things go well, this dance does have a nimble quality to it.

First, the ship either finds an area of open water to "park it" up against a floe, or it does its CTD routine and creates an opening. Jamie Morison calls this "mowing the lawn". Laurie Padman of Earth and Space Research, and whoever is on watch at the time, begin preparing the Vampire for a swim out of its Helo Hut on the fantail. That means gently carrying the 130 pound instrument out to the hut, setting up its computer controls, and fastening hoses, clamps, bolts, sensors, drag brushes, and tethering lines. Robin Meunch, Kristin Richter, Gerhard Behrens, Laura de Steur, Ramsey Harcourt, and Dirk Notz know this drill well.

Once the "lawn is mowed" we look at our neighborhood of ice.
The brushes of the Vampire on the surface, ready to go down.


At the same time, Jamie Morison, Tim Stanton, and Bill Shaw and a Raytheon Marine Tech (MT) make sure the moonpool is free of ice, flushing this long tube from the deck to the sea with warm water, if necessary. Then, they hook the Yo-Yo CTD/Profiler to its computer controlled winch and prepare it for hundreds of dunks into the mixed layer.
The moonpool...yes the water is that blue.


Not much later, Tim Stanton, Jim Stockel, Bill Shaw, and Miles McPhee can be found at the bow of the ship immersed in the preparations for the deep level mast, a 9 meter (@ 3 stories tall) set of masts and instruments measuring heat flux and turbulence. With the help of an MT, an Edison Chouest crane operator, and the team's own winch controls, this long string of instruments comes out of the forward hold like clowns out of small car at a circus. It is gingerly lifted out and swung across the bow to be placed in the water on the starboard side.

Meanwhile, Anders Sirevaag and Miles McPhee work with an MT to lower their mid-level mast out of the Baltic Room on the starboard side. Using a boom, pulleys, and winch, the 3 meter cluster of instruments goes between 50 and 100 meters into the water.
The deep mast and mid-level mast in our "lake."
The mid-level mast goes out the Baltic Room door, into the "lake."


Watching over the whole operation like guardian angels is the Science Watch team. Raytheon's John Evans and Karl Newyear walk the decks constantly checking on ice conditions, relaying information, sending Raytheon Techs to the next best place to help, pulling and lifting where necessary, and even pushing away threatening chunks of ice. When it's -20o C and the wind blows off the ice, this is not a pleasant job.

Whew! If wind, water, and ice conditions are favorable, the ship will drift with these four instruments in the water (see 8/16-17), collecting mind-numbing quantities of data on ocean temperatures, salinities, densities, heat flux, and turbulence through the water column above which we drift. As of August 30th, we have done 8 drifts, each lasting between 12 and 36 hours and drifting between 8 and 32 kilometers.

What are we looking for? More salt in the water from ice formation to drive ocean mixing. From Miles McPhee: "It is a matter of increasing the most dense mixed layers by as little as 0.01 kg per cubic meter, but that last 0.01 change in salinity is proving hard to come by. Clearly there is a very intricate balance at work here; understanding how that balance is maintained presents a real challenge. It is quite a sight: a gaggle of scientists grouped around the profiler display, intently watching the third decimal place of mixed layer salinity as the instrument cycles through the mixed layer."

When conditions dictate, either a shift in the wind, encroaching ice, or uninteresting water; the whole process is reversed: Vampire is disassembled and put back into the ship's hydro lab, the Yo-Yo goes back on its wall in the van, the mid-level mast finds its place on the aft dry lab's floor, and the deep mast descends into the forward hold. By virtue of doing this routine 8 times so far, each team gets better at set up and take down, sort of like that camping family, in search of the perfect spot.



August 29, 2005

The Senior Analyst, Kathleen Gavahan, has a special role among the Information Technology group. She runs the MultiBeam, a sonar system that maps the ocean floor. Based on the data she can collect, Kathleen produces art gallery quality maps of the area of study's bathymetry.

A small version of Kathleen's map of the Maud Rise region.
Kathleen's own version of Maud Rise on a soon-to-be-shrunk styrofoam cup.

From the bottom of the ship, a "ping" is sent out at 65o-135o angle on each side. The sound travels to the bottom of the ocean and returns the ship, recording the elapsed time, and converting to depth with a water velocity profile. Based on the ocean depth, the system can record files of about 500 pings an hour in a 3000 meter ocean to 14,000 pings in a shallow, 20 meter depth. The pings ultimately tell the software where to plot the topographic lines.



Of course, it isn't all that simple. A shallower sea results in better resolution (detail) but a narrower swath mapped out; a deeper ocean allows for a wider mapping swath but the resolution suffers. While it seems this device could run constantly, it must not be used inside a foreign country's 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone, it must be turned off occasionally so that it doesn't interfere with other underwater tracking devices, and it has difficulty reporting data when the ship travels through ice. Each ping doesn't record perfect data, either. Kathleen and helpers must go into each file (a couple hundred to a couple thousand pings!) and clean up the data so the mapping software can make the most accurate map possible.

We tend to think of data, and certainly mapping, as a black/white area. You record what you see; you map what's there. In creating a map, Kathleen must deal with small inaccuracies in the data, but she edits these to make it more understandable without changing its meaning, much like what an editor does to a piece of writing. File by file, one must work the data from the pings into meaningful map-making data. It's a tedious job, and it requires some subjectivity. But like the tedium that goes with carefully crafted artwork, the results are worthwhile: a map of exquisite quality and beauty.

Not every cruise requires Kathleen's or the MultiBeam's services. Biological oceanographers rarely have a need for the topography of the ocean floor. The physical oceanographers on this cruise requested her skills and the MultiBeam's capabilities because the Maud Rise bathymetry is a piece of the puzzle in understanding how the waters in this area behave. Geophyiscal oceanographers rely heavily on Kathleen because her maps are critical tools in understanding the geology of the ocean bottom.

While she gets help from Isaiah Norton and Craige Mazur, the other two Info Techs, Kathleen does the vast majority of editing and map-making herself on this cruise. The cruises which rely on her more heavily contribute 4 or 8 people to help with the editing. She, however, is ultimately in charge of the maps and has to do the final quality control on all work. There can be 5 computers going at once, processing files and pings, creating grids, and creating map images.

Capturing penguins with a camera keeps her smiling. photo by Laura de Steur

Kathleen also assists with the grunt work of the IT group: data acquisition, processing, storage, and distribution. In addition, she contributes to the ice observations when the ship travels from location to location. She is also the ship's number one fan of penguins.



August 28, 2005

This is day two for acknowledging the Raytheon Technicians who, like a great neighbor, know when and how to lend a hand. Yesterday's log featured the MT and MST positions, the Raytheon techs that provide the various marine services from getting instruments in the water to running the lab. Today's heroes are the teams who work with electrons, which mean they, too, are involved in just about everything the science crew does.

The Electronic Techs...Sheldon Blackman and Brent Evers trade 12 hour shifts at this post. This is a superman electrician's role. Thomas Edison never imagined it getting this complicated. Anything that uses wires, power, or electricity related to the science mission falls under their expertise.

Sheldon Blackman has over 25 years experience in the Antarctic Program.
Brent Evers is the other half of the Electronic Tech duo.

There are dozens of screens around the ship that broadcast ongoing science information in a closed circuit TV system. There are dozens of radios that allow the science crew to stay in contact throughout the ship or on the ice. They maintain an inventory of 65 ocean sensors, 22 atmospheric sensors, 13 sensors sampling water as the ship is underway, and 18 sensors for mooring or other miscellaneous science needs. Their abilities make sure scientists get data on air and ocean temperatures, wind speed, humidity, pressure, salinity, current, ocean oxygen levels, ocean clarity. Their generators and creative wiring around the ship provide portable electrical service for ice work or areas not readily accessible to ship's power. All the wiring, connecting, soldering, grounding, splicing, testing, and repairing you can imagine gets done by these two guys.

One of three walls full of electronic wizardry.

Brent and Sheldon run the TeraScan system which receives infrared, visible, and microwave images directly from several satellites. These images become printouts of ice and weather conditions which help the ship pick a cruise track and help the scientists with their decisions about what to expect from the sea and sky.

The Information Techs...This trio has a decathlete's multiple talents in the oh-so-important computer/data arena. EVERYONE on this ship uses a computer, from the captain, to the science party, to the deckhands. Heck, some people are using 2-3 computers at once. Craige Mazur, Isaiah Norton, and Kathleen Gavahan comprise the IT crew. As Senior Analyst, Kathleen has unique duties in charge of the ocean mapping systems which will be explained tomorrow.

Isaiah and Craige..."You want us to do what?"

Craige and Isaiah each do a 12 hour shift in E-lab. They keep the emails coming and going. This service is important for everyone's personal communications but it also supplies us with data from global climate models and the buoys we've deployed, and keeps us in touch with professional colleagues who are monitoring the progress of this cruise. They make sure all oceanographic and atmospheric sensor data gets retrieved, stored, processed, backed up, and distributed.

They support the many systems running on the ship: Windows, Apple, Linux, and Sun Microsystems. Approximately 15 core servers, covering dozens of meters of wall space, keep ship computers and scientist computers humming. They maintain the printers and keep track of all the supplies associated with producing images. The satellite phone also comes under their care. When the techs are not putting out fires that flare up in the system, they work on projects to make their IT world run a bit smoother, such as increasing email reliability and response time. Finally, they serve as PC techs to the science crew when the scientists' personal machines get cranky or crash.

And that ain't all. The Raytheon Techs also contribute extra duty as the safety crew of Science Watch when scientists are working on the ice. The Marine Techs, Eric and Josh, are the Emergency Medical Techs in case of injuries. Kathleen has put in time on ice observations. As a group, they provide a sturdy foundation for the science goals of the cruise.



August 27, 2005

My neighbor, Al Hayden, was the kind of guy you wanted living close by. Sadly, he's deceased, but for many years, Al always seemed to know when I needed help, or something had broken around my house. He just couldn't stand to see me struggle with a task, or call an expensive repair person. He would pull out the right tool, or have the right skill to help me get through a problem. I hope you have an Al in your life. On this cruise we've got the Raytheon techs.

Raytheon Polar Services Company contracts with the United States Antarctic Program, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. In its contract, Raytheon provides support to the scientists who have research grants for work in the Antarctic. Today, you can read about the Marine and Marine Science Techs; tomorrow will cover the Electronic and Information Techs.

The Marine Techs. This cruise has four: Jenny White is the Senior Marine Tech, and is first among equals who includes Josh Spillane, Rick Lichtenan, and Peter Fitzgibbons. The quartet works in pairs, splitting the 24 hour day into two, 12 hour shifts. The ship's literature will tell you they run, maintain, and repair NSF owned equipment and handle the scientific cargo. That description is a little sterile.
Marine Techs: "Like a good neighbor..."
Rick Lichtenan does some of the necessary grunt work.

On this cruise, they are equal parts mechanical engineer, lathe operator, carpenter, construction worker, small boat (Zodiac) and snowmobile operator, yeoman, and stevedore,. They know how to work a winch, communicate with a crane operator, control heavy loads, handle any kind of manual or power tool, build temporary devices like a table, dig an ice hole, deploy a dozen different of oceanographic instruments, and safely lift, carry, push, or pull any object on the ship. They are experts with straps, ropes, cord, cable, nets, nuts, bolts, buckles, and pulleys.

MT's Jenny White and Peter Fitzgibbons discuss putting in a Lagrangian float with Mike Ohmart. photo by Laura de Steur
Josh Spillane relaxes with some of the tools of the MT trade.

Each of them is an excellent problem solver, knowing how to use equipment, tools, and their own strength to help the scientists get scientific work done. In fact, look at most previous web logs and their pictures and an MT probably had a hand in it.

More tools (toys?) of the MT group.

The Marine Science Tech. Eric Hutt claims this responsibility, largely focused on the lab, chemicals, and waste products. Our cruise needs only one MST since the science work is more physical oceanography than chemical or biological. That doesn't mean he is catching up on his reading list. To validate the CTD data, Eric has run hundreds of salinity tests and oxygen titrations on the water samples we collected. He handles all the chemicals and lab equipment involved in these duties, as well as the record keeping. That means keeping track of bottles of chemicals, tanks of gases, freezers, refrigerators, and coolers. His responsibility continues with getting samples shipped back to the scientists' home offices, and all the packing and paperwork that entails.

Eric Hutt works on oxygen titrations.


And then there is the waste issue. Normal lab procedures and The Antarctic Treaty mandate strict adherence to waste management protocols. He handles and sorts out burnable waste; lab debris that includes gloves, pipettes, and plastics; glass waste; hazardous waste and radioactive waste; batteries; autoclave waste; and sharps waste. Each category has special handling requirements Eric must follow. When the science crew was on the ice, Eric was a regular part of the Science Watch safety crew.

There are lots of buzz words and catch phrases around the ship. One you hear a lot is, "Call the MT on watch."

Tomorrow, the Electronic and Information Techs.



August 26, 2005

Models. Some of you will think of Sports Illustrated or a particular catalog. Others might think of small pieces of easily lost plastic, held together by smelly glue, which hopefully resembles an airplane or automobile. Mention models, or a modeler, on this cruise and you think first of Ramsey Harcourt, Brian Powell, and Laura de Steur. Each of these scientists uses the computer to predict what might happen in the near future, and therefore, helps in deciding where the ship and the instruments will go next.

The modeling trio at their works