Nancy Lewis
Onboard NOAA Ship Ka’imimoana
September 15 – 27, 2003
Mission: Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO)/TRITON
Geographical Area: Western Pacific
Date: September 25, 2003
Transit to Honolulu, HI: Approximate arrival: evening of 9/28//2003
1600-1700: Fantail BBQ
1800: Wog Talent Show
Weather Observation Log: 0100
Latitude: 12 degrees, 29.6’ N
Longitude: 145 degrees, 30.0’ W
Visibility: 12 nautical miles
Wind direction: 120 degrees
Wind speed: 9 knots
Sea wave height: 3-4 feet
Swell wave height: 5-7 feet
Sea water temperature: 28.0 degrees C
Sea level pressure: 1013.4 mb
Dry bulb pressure: 28.0 degrees C
Wet bulb pressure: 25.7 degrees C
Cloud cover: 6/8 Cumulus, cirrus
Science and Technology Log
Yesterday, I asked the question: “What is the difference between climate and weather?” Understanding the distinction is important, and is often confused by students, who often hear the two terms used interchangeably.
Very simply, weather is what is happening at any given moment in terms of temperature, rainfall, winds, humidity and storms. We all know that the weather can change from hour to hour and day to day. Climate, on the other hand, is the overall weather pattern and conditions for a given area or region over a period of time. Thus, we may say the climate for large areas of the continental U.S. is temperate, while the climate of Pacific islands is tropical. The Big Island of Hawaii, with its two 13,000 foot mountains, has at least 9 climate zones.
We know that the earth has undergone times in its past of major climate change. At one time, the polar ice extended down into areas of the United States that today are ice free. We know that even very small changes in ocean temperatures can create conditions that have far-reaching effects around the world. Scientists are still attempting to understand the interaction of the atmosphere and oceans in order to be able to better predict and prepare for climate changes. The climate observation system provided by the TAP/Triton array and maintained by the KA’IMIMOANA is an important link in the global effort to completely understand the complex relationships between air, sea, land, and human actions and how these affect climate and weather.
Personal Log
Today I spent a lot of time preparing for the Wog Talent Show, in addition to answering my email and writing this log. I thought I would share with you part of my little act, which was a dramatization of the Legend of Fenua Enata, the creation myth of the Marquesas Islands. It was set to some very nice island music from the island of Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands.
The buoy that was dedicated to Taiohae School was painted and named by the students: “Fenua Enata,” which they told me was their word for their islands. The term “Marquesas” was the name given to the islands by the first European to come to Fenua Enata.
Legend of the Fenua Enata
A long time ago, when the sun was shining on the sea, the first man, Atea and the first woman, Atanua had no house.
So Atanua told Atea: “We do not live well without a house”. Atea did not answer.
He thought: “I do not know how to build a house.”
Then he thought, “I have the divine power of the Mana. I will ask the gods.”
One evening Atea said to his wife Atanua: “Tonight I will build you a home. I know how.”
It was dark and Atea’s voice was like a spell singing in the silent nothingness:
AKA OA E, AKA POTO E, AKA NUI E, AKA ITI E E
E E, AKA PITO E, AKA HANA E, HAKA TU TE HAE
The spell was finished, the work began, the site was chosen in the middle of the ocean.
Two sturdy posts were erected: these became UA POU
A long beam was placed on top of them; it became HIVA OA
The front posts and the rafter covering the roof was NUKU HIVA
Nine woven coconut palm leaves, laid end to end as thatch became FATU IVA
The weaving of the thatch took a long time as did the making of the sennit.
Time passed quickly as Atea worked and worked without stopping.
Suddenly Atanua shouted: “O Atea e,
The light of dawn is turning the sky to red”: it is TAHUATA
“O Atea e, Moho, the morning bird just sang”: It is MOHOTANI
Atea kept digging a hole for the litter of fronds, sennit and hau bark,
Until finally he said: “This is UA HUKU”.
Then the sun lit up the sky illuminating the ocean and the new dwelling place.
Atanua cried out: “Ir is EIAO”.
Thus, the Land of Men, Fenua Enata, was created.
Question of the Day: What is the thermocline?
Aloha from the KA,
Nancy Lewis
