NOAA Teacher at Sea
Mavis Peterson
Onboard NOAA Ship Fairweather
June 21 – July 9, 2005
Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: North Pacific, Alaska
Date: June 29, 2005
Lat.:54 56.5’N
Long.:160 16.7’W
Visibility: 10+
wind direction: 308
wind speed: 10
Sea wave height: 1
swell wave height: 4
sea water temperature: 9.5
sea level temp.9.6
sea level pressure: 1013.6
cloud cover and type: mostly clear, few high cum. clouds
Science and Technology Log
Today was another slow day. I spent some time on the bridge just observing and watching. I worked on some lesson plans, sat in on one interview with Matt, and looked at a lot of ocean. I observed a transmission of weather information to the National Weather Service and visited with John French a “weatherman,” as his degree is in atmospheric science. He was very knowledgeable and we discussed the uses of the information that is being gathered on this ship and compared that to what other NOAA ships are doing. This ship gathers information and uses it to make charts and maps. Some of the other NOAA ships serve as a platform for scientist to do their special projects. We also discussed the incredible differences in background that the crewmembers have. From past fishermen to specialists in several different areas, the combination gives the ship a well-rounded crew.
Personal Log
Not much to report. I spent my free time reading. The rock and roll of the ship certainly is sleep-inducing. I don’t think any emails are getting through to me.
