Nancy Lewis
Onboard NOAA Ship Ka’imimoana
September 15 – 27, 2003
Mission: Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO)/TRITON
Geographical Area: Western Pacific
Date: September 27, 2003
Transit to Honolulu, HI
Sunday night arrival at Hotel pier, Pearl Harbor
Monday morning: clear Customs/Immigrations/Agriculture
Refuel, then depart approximately 1500 for Snug Harbor
Weather Observation Log: 0100
Latitude: 17 degrees, 18.4’ N
Longitude: 153 degrees, 17.5’ W
Visibility: 12 nautical miles
Wind direction: 080 degrees
Wind speed: 14 knots
Sea wave height: 3-4 feet
Swell wave height: 5-7 feet
Sea water temperature: 26.8 degrees C
Sea level pressure: 1013.5 mb
Dry bulb pressure: 27.2 degrees C
Wet bulb pressure: 25.0 degrees C
Cloud cover: 1/8 Cumulus, alto-cumulus
Science and Technology Log
Today I will try and summarize for you the “El Nino Southern Oscillation Diagnostic Discussion” that was forwarded to me by Captain Ablondi of the KA’IMIMOANA. This report was issued by the Climate Prediction Center.
Current atmospheric and oceanic conditions are near normal and do not favor either the development of El Nino or La Nina. Sea surface temperature anomalies of +0.5 degrees Celcius were noted west of the International Dateline, but there were near-zero anomalies in the equatorial Pacific east of 150 degrees West longitude. During August, very little SST anomalies were observed in the El Nino regions.
In May there were gains in upper-ocean temperature which spread eastward into the central and eastern Pacific. This was associated with an eastward Kelvin wave, that resulted from weaker than average easterly tradewinds that occurred in May and June. SST (Sea Surface Temperatures) anomalies increased during June and July, but then subsided during August.
The Tahiti-Darwin SOI (Southern Oscillation Index) showed a great deal of month to month variability, but shows no trend towards the development of either El Nino or La Nina.
Most of the statistical forecasts display near neutral conditions for the remainder of 2003 and 2004. This forecast is consistent with the trends revealed by all other oceanic and atmospheric measurements and data.
I have copies of the graphs associated with the above report, and would be happy to make them available to any classes, students or teachers upon request.
Personal Log
Today everyone is readying for our arrival tomorrow night into Pearl Harbor. Accounts with the ship’s store are being squared up, and some of the computers are having operating systems reinstalled. Most of us are starting to pack. I am still answering e-mails, cataloguing photos and catching up with my daily logs.
The real treat came just at sunset after dinner. The Big Island was visible from our position of 100 miles away. Mauna Loa showed clearly on the horizon, and I thought I could even see Kilauea off to the east. It was an exceptionally clear evening, but in spite of that, we saw no “green flash”. I was really excited to get my first glimpse of land in so many days, and be able to see my much loved mountain. One other crew member, Curt, also lives on the Big Island, and we joked that we could probably jump ship and swim home.
The prediction is that we will pass by South Point around 2 in the morning. I plan to be on the bow!
Question of the Day: What is phytoplankton?
Land Ho!
Nancy Lewis
