NOAA Teacher at Sea
Marilyn Frydrych
Onboard NOAA Ship Delaware II
September 15-25, 2008
Mission: Atlantic Herring Hydroacoustic Survey
Geographical area of cruise: New England Coastal Waters
Date: September 25, 2008
Weather Data from the Bridge
41.27 degrees N, 70.19 degrees W
Partly Cloudy with wind out of the W at 19 knots
Dry Bulb Temperature: 26.0 degrees Celsius
Wet Bulb Temperature: 20.9 degrees Celsius
Waves: 2 feet Visibility: 10 miles
Sea Surface Temperature: 21.6 degrees Celsius
Science and Technology Log
We received a call from the Coast Guard yesterday telling us to seek shelter because of the impending interaction of Hurricane Kyle with a strong cold front approaching us. We cut our cruise a day short and headed for Woods Hole. As we headed back in I had time to reflect on my experiences over the last couple weeks. I particularly appreciated all the positive energy of the scientific crew. They were always very helpful and thoughtful as well as efficient. I learned a lot from them. Each morning I found myself looking forward to what might unfold as we worked together. I totally enjoyed my four or five hours of free time each day. Often I would spend this time on the bow or the fantail taking in the rhythm of the sea. It was a very soothing experience much like watching a camp fire. The sunsets, too, brought a sense of awe and peace.
Each of the crew was a master of multiple tasks. Jon Rockwell was not only an expert cook, but a medic as were three others aboard. As part of their initial training with the NOAA Corps the four officers had entered a room fully in flames and totally filled with smoke. If they had to, they could navigate by the stars. Two of the officers were NOAA trained SCUBA divers. The engineers could fix anything whether it had to do with distilling water, leaking hydraulic pipes, stuck drawers, broken toilets, cracked welds, or the various diesel engines. They were experts in the “green” rules governing disposal of waste. The ET specialist could fix both hardware and software. The scientists knew their software programs backwards and forwards. All very impressive.
