Logbook
June 20, 1999

Wecoma Science Report

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Life at Sea: Participant Perspective

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Teacher At Sea Logbook

Wecoma Teacher Log

Thompson Teacher Log

Wecoma Teacher at Sea Log

Day 5, Sunday 6/20/99

This morning the lab was active with the completion of a "Tow-Yo". This one crossed over the caldera, or cone of the Axial Volcano at a 90 degree angle from the first. This method allows the scientists to have a clear understanding of the spread of the plume. The map table is very colorful with the location of the ship and the trailing CTD package in contrasting colors (example: yellow, blue or green and red) clearly marking each along the cruise line. Each rising and lowering of the CTD is marked with the time and depth sounded on a log sheet. Eugene Burger, a technician from NOAA/PMEL and Brian Laubner, a junior midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy have been busy most of the night and early morning recording the ships trackline on the map.

With each sample taken we gain a clearer understanding of the location of the volcanic plume in the water column. My understanding of the relationship among the data collected is beginning to make more sense. This exploration can be interpreted in many ways. Each scientist aboard has individual needs for profiles and the wide variety of samples to be utilized in the labs on the scientists' return.

Dall's porpoise again play along the side of our vessel in the early evening. They feed off the stern on Saurimi (similar to herring, but pelagic open ocean, 8"-10" long) drawn in by the ships lights. You could hear the clicking communication and/or sonar of the dolphin when standing on the deck. It was 1:30 am and their performance was a welcome change of pace.

This is an interesting adventure! Tomorrow I am sure will bring even more....

Fair seas,
Ms. Deck

Teacher log #1 Sunday 6/20/99 Happy Father's Day

Greg At long last, final preparations are being made for us to leave Victoria and head out to sea. Scientists have set up, checked and rechecked equipment, run baseline tests and tied down their equipment. The remotely operated submersible, affectionately known as ROPOS, got its first test in the water from the dock at 11:45 a.m. and managed to checkout OK with little trouble. ROPOS will get another deeper test later tonight as we move out to sea. We are coming up to the no turning back point for those of us who still are not sure why we are here (like me). Things that we will be writing to you about from this voyage will include, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and ROPOS, the Cage, tethers and umbilicords, and special deep water cameras and other assorted equipment that will be attached to ROPOS. While waiting on board over the past 24 hours, I have met many interesting individuals whom you will meet later and have discussed research plans with a number of the scientists. Some of the equipment I have been able to observe include the CTD Rossette sampler, osmotic sampler and osmotic analyzer. These last two are both designed for long term deployment on site. The sampler was used last year and has an incredibly simple design while the analyzer is new and will be tested early in the trip and then be retrieved for data collection. If it works well it will be deployed again for a longer stay on the bottom. More to come on both these unique tools. We have just been given the call for all ashore who are going to shore so its departure time at last!! Have a great time following the cruise of the Thomas G. Thompson. We look forward to any questions you can send our way and pass the word along to your friends about what is going on out here so that they to can check in with us. Bye for now.