Friday, September 30, 2011

Day 4 Friday September 30, 2011 06:32 GMT

Everyone seems to be falling into a rhythm now that we have done 10 stations.
Only 114 more stations to go!

People are pitching in from Survey (crew who deploy and bring up the rosette) to CTD watch (control how far the package goes down, and where to stop for water samples) and everywhere in between to give a hand to some of the samplers who don't have alternates and therefore don't have time to really sleep.

There is still a bit of queasiness found in some of the first timers (like me), but it seems to be fading fast and in no time we will all have our sea legs.

There have been some problems popping up, like an issue with the winch holding steady, but there is usually a plan quickly put in place and no need to worry much.

Thanks for reading!
- Elizabeth
- CTD/LADCP watch stander and occasional sampler

And if you want to follow our track our current position is:
29 44.99S  and   10 19.20E


Below are a few pictures of sample collection and another picture of the rosette just before it is put in the water.




Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Day 3 Thursday Sept. 29, 2011 02:45 GMT

We are finally out on the water after a very long delay that gave the science expedition and crew of the R/V Ronald H. Brown a month long stay in Cape Town, South Africa.  Even with all of the work we found to do during that interim most of us were still able to go out and explore South Africa.

It was with much relief though when we were finally able to get underway.  Since leaving on September 26, 2011 we have been able to do a test cast and 6 real casts.  Sample collection is running smoothly and the data we are getting back from CTD (measures salinity and temperature) and LADCP (maps current velocity) looks good.

Things are looking up!

If you are following our path our current position is:
29 25.77' S and 12 38.76' E

Below are a few pictures of; our first station cast, sunrise over Cape Town the day we left, and sunrise over the ocean.