NOAA Teacher at Sea
David Tourtellot
Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson
July 9-26, 2018
Mission: Hydrographic Survey – Approaches to Houston
Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 11, 2018
Weather Data from the Bridge
Latitude: 28° 51.29’N.
Longitude: 093° 44.54’W
Visibility: 10+ Nautical Miles
Sky Condition: 6/8
Wind: Direction: 285°, Speed: 4 knots
Temperature:
Seawater: 30° C
Air: Dry bulb: 30.1°C Wet bulb: 26.8°C
Science and Technology Log
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is currently anchored in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 50 miles Southeast of Galveston, Texas. The ship is on a hydrographic mission, meaning it is in the process of mapping an approximately 1100 square nautical mile area in order to make updated nautical charts. These will be very useful for ships as they approach the Port of Houston, which is one of the busiest ports in the world.
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson carries 2 smaller survey vessels (also known as Hydrographic Survey Launches, or HSL’s) that assist in our research. These boats carry sonar systems (which I will go into greater detail about in a future blog post), as well as some other devices that are used to make various measurements. I was fortunate enough to be able to go out on one of these smaller boats as they collected a variety of data.
One device that is used is called a CTD. The name is an acronym, standing for conductivity, temperature, and depth. Conductivity refers to how well the water conducts electricity. That data can be used to determine the salinity of the seawater, or how salty it is. If a scientist knows the salinity and temperature of the water, they can determine the density of the seawater.
Additionally, the boats carry devices that collect samples of the sea floor. The makeup of the seafloor varies greatly from one location to another – some areas are sandy, while others are rocky or muddy. This information can give mariners a better idea of what the underwater habitat is like, and is some of the most sought after data that NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is collecting.
The bottom sample that we collected was mostly mud. In addition to recovering a physical sample, the crew is experimenting with taking a photo of the seafloor using a GoPro camera. When I was on board, they had successfully mounted the camera to the bottom sampler, but were unable to get a good image.
Personal Log
I arrived in Galveston, TX, on the morning of July 8th, which was a Sunday. I found the ship to be mostly empty, as most of the crew had gone into the city. I was greeted by ENS Garrison Grant, who gave me a tour of the ship. The ship left port on Monday afternoon, and it was fascinating watching the crew on the bridge navigate out into open water. The lanes going into Galveston and Houston were very busy with a wide variety of vessels – I saw everything from small fishing boats to huge container ships and cruise ships. Safe navigation requires clear communication and lots of attention to detail. I imagine that it could be quite stressful, but the bridge crew were all calm and professional.
Yesterday, we did two safety drills – the first was a fire drill, and the second was an abandon ship drill. The general principles of these drills are very similar to what we do at school – we make sure that every individual knows where they are supposed to be and what role they are supposed to play in an emergency situation. Hopefully we won’t need to put that knowledge to use, but practicing these procedures is essential to crew safety in the event of an emergency.
I’m delighted to say that I have found the crew to be very friendly and helpful – they’re very patient with me and good at explaining their complex systems in easy to understand terms, for which I am very grateful.
Before I left Missouri to join the ship, my friends, students, and colleagues asked me dozens of questions, but probably the most frequent one was about the living arrangements on board. I didn’t know what to expect, and I have found the stateroom I’ve been assigned to be quite pleasant. The room is equipped with a comfortable bunk bed, a small television, a refrigerator, and an en-suite bathroom. There are also a pair of desks and ample storage room.
Did you know?: When measuring the temperature of the air, NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson uses both a dry bulb thermometer and a wet bulb thermometer. The difference between the two allows us to determine the relative humidity of the air.
Highlight of the Day: Yesterday, while aboard the small boat, I saw several dolphins playing in the water. I’ve never seen dolphins in person before, so it was really cool getting to watch them.
