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Amelia Black, A Horse Of Course! July 16, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Amelia Black 
Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II
July 6-17, 2026

Mission: SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 16, 2026 

Weather Data from the Bridge:
Latitude: 30.00 N
Longitude: 87.30 W
Sea wave height: 2 ft
Wind Speed: 13 kt
Wind Direction: 270
Visibility: 10 miles
Sea Temperature: 84.02℉
Air Temperature: 85℉
Barometric Pressure: 30.08 inHg
Humidity: 72%
Sky: Clear

Science and Technology Log

“That, my dear, is a ‘horse of a different color.’” — Carriage Driver from The Wizard of Oz

We have caught a few seahorses (Hippocampus erectus) in our various trawls.  I was surprised to see that seahorses come in many different colors. Check out this video of seahorses that we caught.  They are kept in a bucket with a bubbler while we wait to measure and weigh them.   

Did you know that seahorses are one of the few animals in which males become pregnant and give birth?  Their close relatives, pipefish and seadragons, also belong to this unique family. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/seahorse.html 

Read more about Seahorses here https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2022/09/01/cheers-pipefish/ or https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/Fishery%20Leaflets/leaflet495.pdf 

One of these is not like the other…  Can you tell which one doesn’t belong? 

The odd one out is a Chain pipefish (Syngnathus louisianae). Pipefish are in the same family as the seahorse. Find out more about pipefish here. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2022/02/17/pipefish-of-the-florida-panhandle/

Speaking of horses. NOAA Ship Oregon II has two twin engines. Each engine produces 900 horsepower, giving Oregon II a total of 1,800 horsepower!  

Oregon II is the oldest ship in the NOAA Fleet and was built in 1967 by Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi https://www.omao.noaa.gov/marine-operations/ships/oregon-ii 

Plaque of Oregon II from the flying bridge 

There are a lot of pieces that keep Oregon II  moving.  The engineering department keeps the ship moving, the lights on, and nearly every system aboard operating smoothly. On a typical day, the engines use about 1,200 gallons of fuel.  That’s a lot of gas to keep things moving. 

View of the two engines from the top of the engine room. 
Two NOAA Engineers on duty in the Engine Room.

I had the opportunity to go below deck and check things out with the Chief Engineer.  I had to wear hearing protection, and even then the engine was incredibly loud and there was only one engine running at that time. The deck below was not only loud but very hot.  The engines are Caterpillar engines and with the amount of power they push out to keep the boat moving they produce a lot of heat.  

The Chief Engineer has made it a fun work environment by adding a few robots. 

The first robot
Check out this robot, looks a little familiar 

He is working on this one. Can you guess what it will become? 

It’s a minion! 

The Chief Engineer said one of the best things about NOAA is the incredible people who work here. He likes what NOAA does and feels that a lot of the actual research that you look up comes from NOAA. 

Another department that keeps Oregon II moving is the NOAA Corps.  These are the officers that run the bridge.  I have had several opportunities to go above deck and look out from the bridge.  The bridge offers a beautiful view, and every time I have visited I have been lucky enough to see dolphins swimming alongside the ship. Here is a look at all the instruments the bridge uses to navigate. 

Check out all the screens and the equipment needed to pilot the ship. 
Picture of the Captain’s Chair  
Caption: View from the Bridge

Personal Log

Me with Lawrence’s Sea Star (Luidia lawrencei) 

Check out that Lawrence Sea Star!  What a fun coincidence! Next week I’ll be attending a professional development at the Dole Institute in nearby Lawrence, Kansas.  

I have had the opportunity to experience and learn many amazing things so far.  Here are some videos I took about what I have been up to!  

Here is a cute video of a shamed face crab spitting water.  This is how they breathe and get oxygen out of the water.  It is just too cute! 

Video of a shame-faced crab spitting water. 

Video of small octopus in the water and on my hand.

Video of Sea Urchin moving 

I can’t believe this adventure is almost over! After this blog I will write one more blog to let everyone know the total number of Marine life that was cataloged by Leg 3 of SEAMAP Groundfish Survey. 

Activity Corner

Here are a few activities about seahorse you can do with your children (or just for fun):

Preschool-1st grade
Practice the letter S 
Draw a Seahorse with the Letter S from Art for Kids Hub https://youtu.be/UIfte0bmqFE 

2nd and up
Check out these seahorse facts:
https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C_seahorse_bubble.pdf 
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2018/12/10/7-wild-facts-may-not-know-seahorses/
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/seahorse

Draw A Cute Baby Seahorse with Art for Kids Hub https://youtu.be/LgocsDWUjaM 

Draw A Seahorse with Art for Kids Hub https://youtu.be/n8zJsprXCmk 

Check out this activity from NOAA for a winter in July:  
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-paper-snowflake-crafts-help-you-celebrate-winter

Did You Know?

The actual number of species in the ocean is unknown.  According to this article scientists estimate that over 90% of the ocean life has yet to be classified! https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-species.html

Check out my last blog to get the total number of marine life we surveyed. 

Don’t forget that you can follow along on my journey through the gulf at https://www.windy.com/station/ship-wtdo?waves,27.501,-92.356,8,m:esbadxt 

Adventure awaits! 

Sources

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/seahorse.html 
https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/Fishery%20Leaflets/leaflet495.pdf
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2022/02/17/pipefish-of-the-florida-panhandle/
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2022/09/01/cheers-pipefish/
https://projectseahorse.org/saving-seahorses/supporting-seahorse-relatives/
https://www.omao.noaa.gov/marine-operations/ships/oregon-ii

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Amelia Black, Every trawl brings a surprise July 14, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Amelia Black 
Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II
July 6-17, 2026

Mission: SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 14, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge:
Latitude: 28.80 N
Longitude: 84.40 W
Sea wave height: 2 ft
Wind Speed: 4 kt
Wind Direction: 260
Visibility: 10 miles
Sea Temperature: 85.46℉
Air Temperature: 85℉
Barometric Pressure: 30.08 inHg
Humidity: 72%
Sky: Overcast

Science and Technology Log

Just like in life, everyday brings a new adventure, every trawl brings a surprise.  It’s like opening up a treasure chest, except instead of gold and jewels, we’re uncovering the mysteries of the ocean.  On this trawl, as on many others, I had to do a double take.  At first glance, it looked like someone had pulled a brain out of the Gulf! “Hey, Scarecrow, I found your brain!” Thankfully, it was not a brain at all but a tunicate.  

Pleated Sea Squirt (Stylea plicata)

This brain-like creature is called a tunicate.  It is also known as sea pork or pleated sea squirt. Learn more about these types of invertebrates here:  https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/tunicates-not-so-spineless-invertebrates 

The surprises weren’t over yet. Although this is a groundfish survey, we don’t just catch fish! Every trawl brings up a variety of amazing marine life, making each haul an exciting surprise. 

Check out this video to see what came up in one of our trawl nets:

What was that huge thing?  

It was a conch shell, but wait!  At first glance it appeared to be empty.  Then something moved inside…

Can you guess what was hiding inside? 

It was an octopus! Seeing my first wild octopus was incredibly exciting! 

Corny joke, because I can’t help myself: Instead of a turtle in a half shell, we found an octopus in a conch shell!

Conch shells are created by large marine snails. After the snail leaves the shell or dies, other animals sometimes move in and use the empty shell as a shelter (home). 

So far, we have caught two Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris).  We measured and weighed both before safely releasing them back into the Gulf.

When the scientists measure an octopus, they measure only the mantle (head).  In the video, you can see Scientist Adam Pollock carefully measuring the mantle before weighing the octopus and returning it safely to the water.

Did You Know? 

  • An octopus has a central brain, but about two-thirds of its neurons are located in its arms.  This allows each arm to sense, explore, and perform complex movements independently. 
  • Octopus can change both color and texture to blend into their surroundings. 
  • They have no bones, allowing them to squeeze through tiny openings. 
  • When threatened, they can release a cloud of ink to confuse predators while they escape.
  • Their suckers help them grip objects and can even “taste” what they touch.  
Octopus in a Conch Shell! The octopus returned to its home (shell) before being released back into the ocean. 

Learn more about the Common Octopus (Octopus Vuglaris): https://www.marinebio.org/species/common-octopuses/octopus-vulgaris/ 

Personal Log

We had intermittent storms during our voyage.  Just like in Kansas, we had to stay inside during lightning. The rain clouds opened up and poured down, but instead of the intense downpours we often get during Kansas thunderstorms, this was a gentler rain with occasional flashes of lightning. Oddly enough, I saw the lightning but never heard the familiar boom or crack of thunder.  I don’t know if it is because of how far away the lightning was from the ship or due to the ship being loud. 

Just as every trawl is unpredictable, as storms are in Kansas, life aboard the ship has its surprises too. Even doing something as simple as laundry becomes an adventure when the ship is rocking back and forth! While loading clothes into the dryer, I had to make sure the swinging door didn’t smack me in the head (I might have had some sense knocked into me a few times). 

I know I have been fortunate so far on this voyage because the waves have only reached a few feet in height.  I am still getting used to the constant rocking of the ship and can be a little clumsy at times! 

In addition to collecting groundfish, we occasionally get the opportunity to observe marine mammals. As we pulled in another trawl, a pod of dolphins appeared, almost as if they wanted to inspect our catch. Check out these dolphins swimming alongside the ship as we pulled up the trawl nets!

These experiences remind me that you never know what you will discover, especially out at sea.  From brain-like tunicates to an octopus hiding inside a conch shell, every trawl offers a glimpse into the incredible diversity of life beneath the Gulf’s surface.  

Every trawl truly does bring a surprise. 

Activity Corner

Looking for a fun activity to do with your school age children?  I love using Art for Kids Hub with my students.  Here are a few activities you can enjoy together!

Preschool-1st grade

2nd-5th grade

Learn more about octopuses:  
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/octopus  
https://www.timeforkids.com/k1/meet-the-octopus-k1/
https://animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/common-octopus/ 

Draw an octopus with Art For Kids Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt6HP4Vucmg 

Older students

Watch this fascinating video:  https://www.thebigsky.co.uk/videos/bbc-wild-bites-octopus/ 

Then try drawing a realistic octopus with Art For Kids Hub:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ-bY-c3-yA

Don’t forget that you can follow along on my journey through the Gulf at: https://www.windy.com/station/ship-wtdo?waves,27.501,-92.356,8,m:esbadxt 

Adventure awaits! 

Sources
https://environmentamerica.org/texas/center/articles/octopuses-of-the-gulf-of-mexico/
https://marinesanctuary.org/blog/sea-wonder-common-octopus/
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/earthisblue/wk128-common-octopus.html
https://www.tbwdiscoverycenter.org/the-bay-blog/the-common-octopus-a-global-master-of-disguise
https://www.marinebio.org/species/common-octopuses/octopus-vulgaris/
artforkidshub.com

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Guy Sturdevant: How We Use the Trawl

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Guy Sturdevant

Aboard Oscar Dyson

June 21 – July 15, 2026

Mission: Summer Pollock Acoustic Survey, Leg 2

Geographic Area of Cruise: Bering Sea, Alaska

Date: July 13, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge

N 58.16° W 172.21 °, 0 AMSL

Conditions: Overcast, Seas at < 1’

Visibility: >3  NM

Wind: 4°/ 6 kt

Barometric Pressure 1010.3 mBar

Dry Bulb Temp: 46 ° F

Science Log

Now that we have identified likely aggregations of fish using the echosounder, we need to “ground truth.” Out here, that means running a trawl to see what exactly was producing the backscatter noted on the echogram. Doing this at regular intervals allows the science team to be confident in their acoustic observations. 

How We Use the Trawl

Let’s walk through the exciting process of a mid-water trawl aboard Oscar Dyson! We pick up the story in the cave. Abigail McCarthy observes an interesting echogram and calls for a trawl. 

This echogram shows interesting backscatter about 10 meters above the seafloor, which is bright across all six frequencies. Time to go fishing!

“Fishing, Fishing, Fishing!” blares over the radios as all departments are notified, a GPS position is recorded, and acoustic data acquisition is paused.

Humpback whales frequent the southern end of the survey area. They are here to feast, just like the pollock we are looking for.

“Marine Mammal Watch ” (15 minutes): our first stop is on the bridge, where at least three pairs of eyes scan the horizon for any sign of cetacean activity. The last thing we want is to catch or harm a whale or porpoise. 

[The bridge]: Simultaneously, the NOAA Corps officer on duty navigates the ship to the reported location. They must consider swell, currents, wind, timing, and bottom conditions when lining up for a trawl; when the net hits the water, maneuverability becomes drastically limited.

[The deck]: The Bosun and their team prepare the net and the scientific payload to help monitor the trawl. The scientific payload includes a stereovision camera system, a temperature-depth probe, and a sonar system that will give us a live view of the net mouth as we trawl. 

“Splash the net!” (15-30 minutes)

[The deck] The net is dropped into the water, starting with the codend. The deck crew very carefully pays out the net, pausing to mount the science payloads and fly the trawl doors. The trawl doors act as underwater wings that spread the net’s mouth. Fish are funneled from the mouth of the net to the codend, where they will be trapped by a finer mesh.

[The bridge] The lead scientist on duty has relocated to the bridge, where they will coordinate with the OOD to operate the boat and net. The OOD uses the vessel’s speed and the length of the warp wire to control the net’s depth. The lead scientist begins monitoring the mouth of the net using the FS70 sonar that is mounted to the net’s mouth. With this sonar, we can actually see fish as they enter the net.

The FS70 echosounder displays a view of what is happening at the net’s mouth.

“EQ” (15-90 minutes): The net has reached the target depth, and trawling is truly underway. This phase of trawling feels very much like playing a 1980s wireframe video game. The lead scientist determines when enough fish have entered the net. When they are satisfied, haulback is called.

“Haulback!” (30-45 minutes): The net (and hopefully the catch!) needs to be brought back onboard.

[The deck] The warps are spooled back in until the trawl doors can be safely stowed; then the net itself is brought aboard. The Bosun and the Survey Tech work together to carefully respool the net to avoid tangles and damage. Several pauses are required to recover the scientific payload. Once the codend is onboard, the haul is dumped into a bin for sorting in the wet lab.

[The bridge] The OOD works with the deck crew via hand signals to steer the vessel side to side to aid in spooling the net.

“Crane Dump” (10-15 minutes): To get the fish out of the net, a crane is used to lift the net and fish into “the table”, a hopper that feeds fish into the wet lab.

Finally, the net is stowed on the spool and readied for its next deployment.

Want to try your hand at trawling? Try out the Midwater Trawling Simulator (now mobile compatible!)

Personal Log

In the last post, we saw Peggy D take to the water for routine maintenance and testing. This week, we get to discuss the other small boat aboard Oscar Dyson. The fast rescue boat (FRB) is designed to respond to emergencies such as a man overboard. This week’s drill was just that, a man overboard drill! Average water temperatures in the survey area hover just above freezing (~5-8 C). In as little as 10 minutes, an unprotected swimmer in these conditions can expect to lose gross muscle control and the ability to aid in their own rescue. Each minute in the water decreases the chance of a successful rescue. Response times matter. Practice matters.

ENS Alex Banh tosses “Ty” overboard to start the drill. Only a few members of the crew are aware of what the weekly drill will be.
Tracking an object overboard is incredibly challenging, even in clear weather.
CME Christian Benvin demonstrates the appropriate way to track a man overboard, indicating the bearing with his outstretched arm and keeping his eyes focused on “Ty”. A quick glimpse around the ship shows at least half a dozen people demonstrating this simultaneously. To lose track of someone in these conditions may well cost them their life.
The engineering team musters on the starboard aft deck with a throw line. ENG Chelsea is trying to locate “Ty”. She has missed the mark on this run (we all had a good chuckle at this candid moment).
While Oscar Dyson has come about and approached “Ty” a rescue swimmer has donned a dry suit and their support team has readied the rescue gear.
Simultaneously, the crew of the FRB has prepared and launched their vessel. We now have two ways to rescue “Ty”. We will practice both in today’s drill.
The FRB takes its turn first. ENG Connor Rauch carefully lines up the vessel with “Ty” while LF John Swenson and ENG Victoria Southwick pull “Ty” into the boat.
Now ENS Joshua Bennett gets his chance. He enters the water and immediately swims to the victim.
The FRB keeps an eye out in case the assist is needed. Today it will not be; ENS Bennett reaches “Ty” quickly and brings him alongside Oscar Dyson.
The victim and rescue swimmer are successfully brought onboard.
The FRB is lifted back onto its cradle after a job well done.

St. Matthew’s Island

Our survey transect brought us close to land at St. Matthew Island. In the Bering Sea, it is easy to pass right by an island and never even see it. On this day, we were treated to breathtaking views of one of the most remote places on Earth.

How to Handle Emergencies on Oscar Dyson

Stay tuned for my next post, where we can look at how medical treatment and emergency evacuation are carried out in these potentially austere conditions.

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Amelia Black, And the Count is On! July 10, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Amelia Black 
Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II
July 6-17, 2026

Mission: SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 10, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge:
Latitude: 30 N
Longitude: 87.30 W
Sea wave height: 3 ft
Wind Speed: 7 kt
Wind Direction: 180
Visibility: 10 miles
Sea Temperature: 88.52℉
Air Temperature: 86℉
Barometric Pressure: 30.02 inHg
Humidity: 71 %
Sky: Clear

Science and Technology Log

“Dorothy, please, we’re trying to count! Fifty-seven, fifty-eight…” Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Wizard of Oz 

After the CTD collects its data, the semi-balloon trawl (green net) is deployed into the water.  The trawl is then dragged along the seafloor behind the ship, this process is known as trawling.  Each trawl lasts for 30 minutes. Once the trawl is complete, the net is hauled back onto the aft deck. 

The deck crew uses a long pole with a hook to grab the lazy line (blue rope).  They then use the rope to pull the net towards the ship.  The net is then attached to the crane, which lifts and positions the catch over the collection box. The catch is emptied into baskets for processing.  

Watch the video to see the trawl net in action!

That was a lot of scallops! How many scallops do you think we caught in this single sample?  

Scallops spilled out over the baskets and we used a shovel to scoop them up. Once filled, the baskets were weighed and taken into the wet lab for processing.  

Scientist Dr. Walt Ingram weighs a sample before it is taken into the wet lab. 
The groundfish sample being placed on the conveyor belt to be sorted.

Due to the sample being so large and mainly one type of groundfish, the scientists decided to process a subsample.  A subsample is created by dividing the entire catch and part of the sample is processed (counted). The whole sample is weighed. Then the sub sample is counted, weighed, measured, and collected as needed.  Scientists then use the data from the subsample to estimate the total number of the whole collection sample. 

There were so many scallops that if the scientists hadn’t split the sample it would have felt like we were counting forever! To make counting easier, we counted baskets of 100 scallops. Then added up the baskets at the end. 

In total we physically counted 4,923 scallops.  Based on the subsample the scientists estimated the entire catch contained 13,757 scallops. That’s a lot of scallops!  

These are Atlantic calico scallops (Argopecten gibbus).  They aren’t the typical sea scallops found in grocery stores or restaurants.  Those larger scallops usually come from colder waters farther north along the Atlantic coast. However, Chief Steward Missy did prepare a soup using some bigger Atlantic calico scallops. 

Speaking of Chief Steward Missy, I would like to introduce you to the talented culinary team aboard Oregon II: Chief Steward Melissa “Missy” McCartney and Chief Cook Kent Schopen.

NOAA Chief Steward Missy and NOAA Chief Cook Kent

Chief Steward Missy is one the hidden gems aboard Oregon II.  Before joining NOAA, she worked as a chef and as a teacher at a vocational school for 15 years.  She also worked at Le Cordon Bleu in Maine before joining the Seafarers International Union.  Missy says, “I love my job because it gives me autonomy.  NOAA has a lot of good people.”  

Chief Cook Kent is permanently assigned to NOAA Ship Nancy Foster, but is currently serving aboard Oregon II as a relief cook. Cooking runs in his family, as they own a restaurant where he gained much of his experience. He has worked for NOAA for five years and enjoys the creative freedom the job provides. Kent says “This is a happy boat. A lot of it starts in the galley”.  I agree, delicious food and full bellies make for happy people. 

 Both Missy and Kent recommend that anyone interested in becoming a NOAA cook begin by getting experience.  They emphasize the value of working in restaurants to build practical skills and experience. Chief Steward Missy’s word of advice to students or anyone is to start with Seafarers International Union, which offers free schooling. 

When I mentioned my school district’s technical education opportunities for high school students, they both agreed that students who gain restaurant experience and earn their ServSafe certificate should absolutely consider applying for NOAA.  The job offers excellent benefits, opportunities for shore leave, and the chance to travel.  The biggest challenges are adapting to life at sea and spending extended periods away from family.    

Personal Log

As we travel from the coast of Mississippi toward northern Florida, our catches are becoming a little “spicier.” That means we are encountering marine life with sharp spines, venom, powerful claws, and impressive teeth. 

Take a look at these photos. Which animals do you think require extra caution when handling? Hint: You might be able to tell based on their names.

A. Pearly Razorfish, B. Shamefaced Crab, C. Scrawled Cowfish, D. Scorpionfish

Caption: A.Pearly Razorfish, B. Shamefaced Crab, C. Scrawled Cowfish, D. Scorpionfish 

The Pearly Razorfish (Xyrichtys novacula) is a very beautiful fish. However, it definitely earns the title of SPICY! 

Razorfish have impressive fangs.  Yes, actual fangs! If I were suddenly scooped up by giants, I’d probably bite too.  Besides their teeth, they’re incredibly slippery and surprisingly flexible, making them difficult to hold safely.  Their flexibility likely comes from them diving headfirst into the sand to hide.  Learn more about pearly razorfish at https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/fish/pearly-razorfish 

Upclose of the pearly razorfish’s fangs. 
Pearly razorfish being counted.

The scorpionfish (Scorpaena brasiliensis), also known as a barbfish, is another species that requires careful handling.  It is bright red in color and its fin spines are venomous to humans, and can cause swelling and redness.  Learn more at   https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/barbfish/ 

The other two marine animals in the collage are the Shamefaced Crab (genus Calappa) and the Scrawled Cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis). 

The shamefaced crab has quickly become one of my favorite creatures, even though it isn’t a fish. Its oversized claws fold over its face, making it look as though it’s hiding. Fishermen sometimes call them rooster crabs because their claws resemble rooster talons. 

The scrawled cowfish is equally fascinating.  Its bright blue body is decorated with intricate yellow markings, and the small horns above its eyes give it its “cow” name. Between the cowfish and the rooster crab, this feels like a Kansas theme.

Check out this reel of me throwing a giant starfish (Tethyaster grandis) back into the Gulf! 

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Did You Know?

Leg 3 of SEAMAP Groundfish Survey has already documented more than 100 different marine taxa (types of marine life).  How many different marine taxa (types) do you think we will record before the survey is complete? 

Don’t forget that you can follow our journey across the Gulf at  https://www.windy.com/station/ship-wtdo?waves,27.501,-92.356,8,m:esbadxt 

Adventure awaits! 

Sources

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/science-data/summer-and-fall-groundfish-surveys-gulf-america https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/mollusc/calico-scallops/information/
https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/fish/pearly-razorfish
https://www.windy.com/station/ship-wtdo?waves,27.501,-92.356,8,m:esbadxt

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Amelia Black: We’re not in Kansas Anymore, July 8, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Amelia Black 

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 6-17, 2026

Mission: SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 8, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge:
Latitude: 28.41N
Longitude: 90.12W
Sea wave height: 1 ft
Wind Speed: 7 kt
Wind Direction: 180
Visibility: 10 miles
Sea Temperature: 88.34℉
Air Temperature: 85℉
Barometric Pressure: 30.03 inHg
Humidity: 70
Sky: Overcast

Science and Technology Log

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz 

Amelia introduces Dorothy

Transcript: [Amelia]: And meet Dorothy! Dorothy is the CTD. And she’s named Dorothy II because we are on the Oregon II.

The entire instrument is called a rosette, but aboard Oregon II it is nicknamed Dorothy II.  The rosette is the large circular frame that holds multiple bottles and scientific instruments.  At the very bottom of the rosette is the CTD, affectionately known as Toto.  CTD stands for Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth and it is one of the instruments scientists use to measure the health of the Gulf.  

two images in a diagram. on the left is an photo of the entire rosette, seen against a white background. it is a circular white metal frame that contains a ring of tall, narrow water bottles mounted above an instrument in the base. the image on the right represents an enlarged view of just that bottom instrument. it is titled "CTD: Conductivity Temperature Depth." In this close-up view, arrows point to different labeled parts: transmissometer, conductivity sensor, temperature sensor, altimeter, pump, flourometer, oxygen sensors, pressure sensor (main unit)
Dorothy II (The Rosette on Oregon II)
Diagram created by Amelia Black, NOAA Teacher at Sea,
with input from NOAA Senior Survey Tech Stephanie Stable
top-down closer view of just the conductivity, temperature, and depth sensor housed at the bottom of the rosette. we can see a label on the sensor reads TOTO.
Toto also known as the CTD

The first measurement the CTD collects is conductivity.  Conductivity measures the salinity or how much salt is in the ocean.  The higher the conductivity, the saltier the water (https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-conductivity) 

You may be wondering, how salty is the ocean? This depends on the temperature of the ocean water. The warmer the water, the more salt the water can hold. The Gulf’s average salinity is 36 parts per thousand or 3.6 percent.  That’s roughly equivalent to a little under ½ a cup of salt dissolved in a gallon of water. Now that’s salty!

Next, the CTD measures the temperature of the water. Both temperature and conductivity are measured at different water depths.  As the rosette approaches the seafloor, an altimeter uses sound waves to determine the distance to the bottom.  An alert is sent to the scientists starting when the rosette is 100 meters from the ocean floor. The altimeter ensures that the rosette doesn’t run into the ground (bottom of the sea). 

The next two sensors, the fluorometer and the transmissometer measure different particles within the water.  According to NOAA Ocean Exploration page: 

A fluorometer measures the amount of chlorophyll in the seawater by shining ultraviolet (UV) light through the water and measuring the amount of red light that is produced by the chlorophyll in response to the UV. (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/19gulfofalaska-logs-july26-2/) 

Yes, chlorophyll, similar to the chlorophyll that plants use to change carbon dioxide into oxygen (photosynthesis).  The fluorometer looks at fluorescents (types of chlorophyll and other compounds) that are in the water.  This information helps the scientists to determine the overall productivity, or health, of the water.  Similar to the fluorometer, the transmissometer uses a beam of light to measure the turbidity of the water.  Turbidity is how clear the water is (https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-07/parameter-factsheet_turbidity.pdf).  The clearer the water, the farther the light travels. Think about the difference between a clear clean creek versus a muddy river.  Which would you rather swim in?  

Senior Survey Technician Stephanie Stabile explains final CTD checks as it is deployed into the water. 

Transcript: [Stephanie]: We go over and we check to make sure all the bottles are open, none of the lanyards are stuck. These air vents at the top of the bottles? We want them closed. And then samples valves at the bottom, we want them pulled out all the way so all water stays in the bottle. We take the caps off the sensor: so there’s two red caps and then one white cap at the bottom as well. And then she’s ready to go!

One final piece of the CTD that is very crucial is the cable.  This cable transmits (sends) data in real time back to the ship’s dry lab.  Scientists receive the data and decide whether to close the rosette’s sampling bottles to collect water for further analysis. Common water samples are tested for chlorophyll, oxygen, and nutrient levels. 

Back in the dry lab, scientists analyze the incoming data using multiple displays.  There is an incredible amount of information flowing in before a single fish is ever caught!  

a man sits at a desk with many computer monitors
photo of a computer screen displaying a table of data

NOAA Scientist Adam Pollack analyzing real-time data from the CTD 

And all of this happens before the crew even deploys the otter trawl nets to collect the groundfish sample for SEAMAP. 

Personal Log

I am really enjoying my time at sea.  I’m not sure if it’s the beautiful ocean, getting to handle fascinating sea creatures, the delicious meals prepared by Chief Steward Missy, or simply the incredible people abroad Oregon II, but so far this has been an amazing experience! 

Speaking of the great crew, I would like to introduce you to one of my coworkers, Senior Survey Technician Stephanie Stabile.  

Stephanie works with NOAA as part of the relief pool.  Rather than being permanently assigned to Oregon II, she gets the opportunity to work aboard many different NOAA ships and crew as relief help, similar to a substitute teacher.  

Survey technicians are responsible for data acquisition.  They oversee the collection and quality of the scientific data gathered by the ship.  “Data is our ‘cargo’, it is why we are out here,” Stephanie explains. 

portrait photo of a woman wearing a blue hard hat and an orange life vest, standing near a wooden railing of the ship at night. she has a pair of rubber yellow gloves clipped to her belt.
NOAA Senior Survey Technician Stephanie Stabile

Stephanie has worked for NOAA since 2015.  The part of her job she enjoys most is being part of a team, accomplishing the mission, and spending time at sea.  

“There are moments where I can’t believe that I get paid to be out at sea,” Stephanie says.  “I look out at the horizon and see how vast the world is.  It is very humbling.”  

photo of sunset over the Gulf. the water is dark blue, and the sky has streaks of yellow, pink, and orange at the horizon beneath gray-blue clouds

“There are moments where I can’t believe that I get paid to be out at sea. I look out at the horizon and see how vast the world is.  It is very humbling.”
– Stephanie Stabile

view over the Gulf toward the horizon. the water is very calm, almost glassy in places, and gray. the sky is light blue with lots of white cloud cover. the water reflects the sky in places.
View of the horizon from Oregon II

Her advice for anyone unsure of their future career: “Whatever it is that you want to do, try to be around it as much as you can. Volunteer, work at an aquarium, get the experience.”  

I absolutely love this advice! Sometimes the best way to discover whether something is the right path/career is simply to get involved and experience it firsthand. 

Did You Know?

The ocean produces over half of the Earth’s oxygen! Check out this article from NOAA to learn more: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-oxygen.html

Don’t forget that you can follow along on my journey through the Gulf at https://www.windy.com/station/ship-wtdo?waves,27.501,-92.356,8,m:esbadxt 

Be sure to check back for my next blog as I continue exploring life and science aboard Oregon II.  

Adventure awaits! 

Sources