NOAA Teacher at Sea
Laura Brezinsky
Aboard NOAA Ship Miller Freeman
April 8 – April 22, 2004
Day 1: Saturday, April 10, 2004
Foci Cruise, Leaving Kodiak Alaska on 4/08 and arriving in Dutch Harbor on 4/22
Latitude: 58.41.1690N
Longitude: 148 50.929’W
Cloud cover: partially sunny
Science and Technology log
This morning we are off the coast of the Kenai Peninsula near Seward Alaska. We retrieved and deployed a buoy at approximately 8 AM and will retrieve the next buoy in approximately 3 hours from that time. I interviewed my bunk mate Jennifer Key who is here conducting research on global circulation patterns. Her primary interest is the distribution of the dust from the Gobi desert and its effects on marine organisms. This is especially interesting to me because it is well known that dust from the Gobi Desert also provides significant levels of nutrients to the forests of Hawai’i.
Personal Log
Last night I learned how to not fall out of my bunk in 30 foot seas. Lets just say that it’s not very restful. This morning I learned what the crew does, they wedge a survival suit under the outside edge of the mattress. The waves have come down quite a bit making it a lot easier to get around. Question of the day: What air currents distribute dust from the Gobi Desert around the world and where is that dust likely to end up? Until tomorrow… Laura
