NOAA Teacher at Sea
Cary Atwood
Onboard NOAA Ship Albatross IV
July 25 – August 5, 2005
Mission: Sea scallop survey
Geographical Area: New England
Date: July 27, 2005
Weather from the Bridge
Visibility: Clear
Wind direction: NNW (230)
Wind speed: 15 knots
Sea wave height: unknown
Swell wave height: unknown
Seawater temperature: 11.4° C
Sea level pressure: 1012 millibars
Cloud cover: Dense Fog
Question of the Day: What might be the major predators of Atlantic scallops?
Yesterday’s Answer
According to Dr. Dvora Hart, probably the world’s expert on Atlantic scallops, who just happens to be on our cruise and is a part of my watch crew, the elements listed below are essential to the survival of these scallops:
- Water temperatures in the range of 0 degrees Celsius –17 Celsius. Above this point they will die.
- Firm sand or pebbly gravel needed for attachment as it grows
- A good supply of phytoplankton and similar sized micro and protozoa and diatoms and detritus to feed upon
Science and Technology Log
This morning after my watch, I interviewed Captain Michael Abbott who is captaining the ALBATROSS during this cruise. We stood up on the bridge while he demonstrated some of the navigation equipment. I like spending time on the bridge because the open view from the bow is fabulous, and there are rarely any people up there. I’ll write about navigation in another entry.
I talked with him about his career in the NOAA officer corps. He joined the Corp about 21 years ago making it a career when he heard about it on his college campus. At that time he was completing a degree in geology and hydrology at the University of New Hampshire. After a three month officer training at the Merchant Marine Academy in King’s Point, New York he became a uniformed officer in the NOAA Corps. It is the smallest branch of the uniformed non-military service, with less than 300 officers operating ships and aircraft for scientific research purposes.
According to Captain Abbott, his major responsibilities aboard the ALBATROSS IV are the safety of the crew, a successful completion of the scallop survey mission and making the cruise enjoyable for all on board. The crew includes 5 uniformed NOAA officers, scientists and ship crew–all together, about 25 people. Being at sea gives Mike great pleasure in that he is able to contribute to NOAA’s mission and play an active part in stewardship towards the environment.
Personal Log
A poem today…
Ocean water Glassy smooth
Rippling velvet
Sunset shimmering
Fog rainbows dancing
Ship rocking
Sun glimmering
Shearwaters circling
Teacher adjusting
To daily rhythms
Of the cruise
