NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kevin McMahon
Onboard NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown
July 26 – August 7, 2004
Mission: New England Air Quality Study (NEAQS)
Geographical Area: Northwest Atlantic Ocean
Date: July 31, 2004
Weather Data from the Bridge
Lat. 43 deg 38.20 N
Lon. 69 deg 57.97 W
Speed 8.9 kts
Barometer 1016.68 mb
Rel Humidity 97.27%
Temp. 18.16 C
Daily Log
0835 hours. The wind speed has increased and is now at about 16 kts which lend a slight roll the ship.
We came within a couple of miles of Fletcher Point, ME. Before turning around, at present we are heading in an easterly direction.
Helped to launch an ozonesonde at 1000. The winds had kicked up to about 20 kts out of the southwest which made it somewhat tricky. In all though it was a successful launch.
I learned later that the ozonesonde made it to an altitude of 39.9 kilometers, not the record but pretty close.
I’ve been up on the bridge. The views of the Maine coastline are spectacular.
Talking to some of the men and women who operate the ship I am amazed at the complexity of the vessel. Aside form the scientific aspect, the bridge alone seems to have more in common with a Boeing 747 than it does with a ship on the sea. Gone are the ships wheel and binnacle and the entire nautical flavor as described by Melville.
The RONALD H. BROWN is as modern a ship as you will find on the ocean.
She is 274 feet in length with a beam of 52.5 feet and a draft of 19 feet.
Its diesel engines do not drive the propellers directly, rather they produce electricity which intern powers electric motors that drive the ships twin aft thrusters and single bow thruster. The ship does not have rudders but is instead maneuvered by the thrusters which have the ability to rotate 360 degrees.
The ships wheel has been replaced by a joystick type apparatus which allows for minute movement in all direction. The GPS navigational system allows the ship to maintain a fixed course over an extended period of time or, hold a steady fixed position within one meter of a desired location.
Questions
How does a GPS system work?
Does the GPS system on the ship differ from the one we use for class fieldwork?
