NOAA Teacher at Sea
Rebecca Himschoot
Onboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson
June 21 – July 10, 2007
Mission: Summer Pollock Survey
Geographical Area: North Pacific Ocean, Unalaska
Date: June 21, 2007
Weather Data from Bridge
Visibility: 10 nm (nautical miles)
Wind direction: 195° (SW)
Wind speed: 11 knots
Sea wave height: 1 foot
Swell wave height: 0 feet
Seawater temperature: 8.1°C
Sea level pressure: 1025.0 mb (millibars)
Cloud cover: high overcast with breaks
Science and Technology Log
After leaving the dock the OSCAR DYSON is now anchored in calm waters where the science team is working to calibrate the acoustic equipment. At the beginning of each leg of the survey, this equipment is checked to ensure accuracy in the data collected at sea. After completing this task the ship will make way for the Bering Sea. Dutch Harbor/Unalaska is gearing up for the height of the summer fishing season, when the year-round population (4500) of this remote community can more than double with the arrival of fisherpeople and processors. The winter fishing season is said to be just as busy, and is becoming well-known for the television show “Deadliest Catch.” The departing science crew tell me summer in the Bering Sea is nothing like what they show on TV, and my fingers are crossed they are correct about this. Just in case, I’m prepared with anti-seasickness medication.
Although the OSCAR DYSON is home ported in Kodiak, the summer Pollock survey takes place out of Dutch Harbor/Unalaska. Unalaska is the name of the community, and Dutch Harbor is the industrial section of the town, which includes the airport. Unalaska’s prehistory dates to at least 9,000 years ago, and the Unangan (formerly called “Aleut”) people are known as seafarers. Today the processors employ workers from all over the globe, including Asia, North and South America, and Africa. Who would have guessed tiny, remote Dutch Harbor/Unalaska would be such a melting pot? A brief tour of the OSCAR DYSON has revealed a spacious bridge area with all the modern navigational equipment, several labs that include a chemistry lab, a wet lab, and an acoustics lab, and my favorite spot so far, the galley. The cabins are comfortable, with two bunks and a bathroom in each room.
Personal Log
Before leaving the dock this morning I enjoyed a hike up a local hillside with views of Unalaska and numerous wildflowers. The crew and science team have been very patiently explaining my duties and telling me about what they do. I am eager to begin fishing tomorrow, although I will be on the “night shift,” which runs 1600 (4 p.m.) until 0400 (4 a.m.). I’ll be helping out a little with identifying birds during the fishing segments of the trip, and am looking forward to spending more time with the US Fish and Wildlife Service bird observers who are on board with us.
Question of the Day
Today is the summer solstice. What does “solstice” mean, and what is special about today?
