Jan. 3: On the Sunrise Shift

January 3rd, 2011

We are passing through 58 degrees south latitude today. Last night was a late night because we started doing sbt surveys, which are really quite fascinating.  I have heard of these, but have never been part of one. 

I had signed up for the 00:00-04:00 shift, which is midnight to 4 in the morning.  The only plus side to this shift is that I got to see the sun come up, which was more of the sky changing colors since the sun takes so long rise right now. The sbt’s are a little lead weight with a depth and temperature sensor attached to it that stays attached to the ship by a copper wire as thick as a piece of hair. 

We drop them in the water at designated positions so that a temperature and depth record of the water column can be sent to a database managed by Scripps Oceanography institute.  These are very important in gathering data around the globe and are deployed by several ships on their trips around the globe. 

The unique part of these sensors is that they are deployed while underway so that the ship does not have to stop and waste time and money. All of the data is then transmitted back to the database so scientists can look at the ocean temperature fluctuations in a time and cost efficient manner. We also took water samples at certain stations that will be sent to the same group to look at salinity, dissolved carbon dioxide, and nutrients. 

After going to bed I woke up for lunch to make sure I got some food in my stomach since I missed breakfast. This is where science starts taking over life on a ship because there is usually something going on at all hours so the 9-5 workday is forgotten. 

I noticed that the ship was tossing and turning a little more than when I went to bed, so I figured we had finally made it into the open ocean and were in the Drake Passage. There was no wind, but residual wave energy from the last storm/wind event was had left 8-10 foot swells rolling through from the west. 

As I mentioned the boat was rocking a little more, which means that as you walk around you need to lean over 20-30 degrees for two or three steps and then lean the other way for two or three steps as you walk around to keep your balance.  You get used to it on the ship, but it is very different from walking around on land.  We also get tacky mats for our plates to keep them from sliding off the table.

We are approximately half way and will continue doing overdue work and sbt/water sample surveys’ for the rest of the trip to Palmer.