Spencer Cody

June 5, 2016August 21, 2021

Spencer Cody: Fairweather in Transition – June 5, 2016

Spencer Cody

Onboard the NOAA Ship Fairweather

May 29 – June 17, 2016

Mission: Hydrographic Survey

Geographical Area of the Cruise: along the coast of Alaska

Date: June 5, 2016

Weather Data from the Bridge:

Observational Data:

Latitude: 58˚ 17.882′ N

Longitude: 134˚ 24.759′ W

Air Temp: 15˚C (59˚F)

Water Temp: 8.9˚C (48˚F)

Ocean Depth: 9.7 m (31.8 ft. at low tide)

Relative Humidity: 67%

Wind Speed: 5.2 kts (6 mph)

Barometer: 1,025 hPa (1,025 mbar)

Science and Technology Log:

Now that I have been on the Fairweather for a few days I have had the opportunity to see much of the ship and learn about how it operates. If ever there were an embodiment of the phrase newer is not always better, it might be the Fairweather. Even though the Fairweather is approaching 50 years old, one cannot help but to attain an appreciation for the quality of her original construction and the ingenuity behind her design. Rooms, compartments, and decks throughout the ship are designed to be watertight and to maximize fire containment. Multiple compartments can be flooded without putting the entire ship in danger. The ship is also designed to withstand sea ice due to its densely ribbed construction and extra think hull. This makes the hull remarkably strong allowing the ship to cut through ice and withstand the additional pressure of ice-covered seas.

155_3414 (2) — One of the two massive Detroit electro-motive diesel engines that propel the ship. Credit Tommy Meissner for the photo.

The Fairweather is built on redundancy for safety and practicality. If one system gives out, another can be relied upon to at least allow the ship to get back to port or depending on the system continue the mission. There are redundant systems throughout the ship involving everything from communications to essentials for sustaining the crew to navigation. There are even redundant servers in case one set of survey data is compromised or physically damaged the other server may remain untouched. Storage space is a premium on a ship that needs to be self-sufficient for weeks at a time to address foreseeable and unforeseeable events. Every free space has a purpose for storing extra equipment, tools, parts, and materials. Utility and efficiency are running themes throughout the ship.

Personal Log:

152_3311 (2) — The incoming and outgoing commanding officers read off their orders to signify the official change of command of the ship.

Dear Mr. Cody,

Onboard our ship the captain is in charge of the entire crew and ship. People follow his orders and the chain of command to take care of the ship and its passengers. It takes a very large crew to take care of all the passengers on a cruise ship and on such a long trip to Alaska and back. (Dillion is one of my science students who went on an Alaska cruise with his family in May and will be corresponding with me about his experiences as I blog about my experiences on the Fairweather.)

Dear Dillion,

The Fairweather also has a captain whose ultimately responsible for the fate of the crew and the ship. While we are in Juneau, the Fairweather is undergoing a change of command. On Wednesday we had a change of command ceremony. It was a day of celebration and reflection on Fairweather‘s accomplishments. As high-level officials throughout NOAA and other organizations arrived, their arrival was announced or “piped” throughout the entire ship over the intercom system. Later in the day we had the official change over in a special ceremony attended by all of these dignitaries and guests with NOAA Corps officers dressed in full uniform.

152_3289 (2) — The *Fairweather* welcoming dignitaries and guests to the Change of Command ceremony.

After everyone read their remarks on the occasion, the time of the official change over was at hand. The Reading of Orders ceremony was carried out where both the outgoing and incoming commanding officers read their orders for their new assignments. Insignia on each officer’s uniform was changed by the spouses officially indicating the new commanding officer and the outgoing commanding officer. With that Lieutenant Commander Mark Van Waes replaced Commander David Zezula as the CO for the Fairweather becoming its 18^th commanding officer. As the new CO gave his arriving remarks, he reminded us that “Command of a ship is many things…it is an honor to know that the leadership of this organization places special trust in your skills and abilities to hold this position…command is a privilege; of the hundreds of those who have served aboard the Fairweather, only 18 have been the commanding officer…command is a responsibility…for the ship…to the mission…and to the people.” The Dependents Day Cruise and Change of Command Ceremony made for an eventful week while in port in Juneau. Now we prepare for our first hydrographic mission with our new CO.

Did You Know?

The Fairweather has a total tonnage of 1,591 tons, displacement of 1,800 tons, a length of 231 feet, and is A1 ice rated meaning it can safely navigate ice covered seas with the assistance of an ice breaker.

Can You Guess What This Is?

A. power generator B. heat sensor C. an incinerator D. RESON multibeam echosounder

The answer will be provided in the next post!

(The answer to the question in the last post was B. a speaking tube. Speaking tubes or voice pipes were commonly used going back to the early 1800s to relay information from a lookout to the bridge or decks below. They were phased out during the 20^th century by sound-powered telephone networks and later communication innovations. They continue to be used as a reliable backup to more-modern communication methods.)

June 3, 2016August 21, 2021

Spencer Cody: Of Geology, Time, and Ice, June 2, 2016

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Spencer Cody
Onboard the NOAA Ship Fairweather
May 29 – June 17, 2016

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area of the Cruise: along the coast of Alaska
Date: June 2, 2016
Observational Data:
Latitude: 58˚ 17.882′ N
Longitude: 134˚ 24.759′ W

Weather Data from the Bridge:
Air Temp: 16˚C (61˚F)
Water Temp: 8.9˚C (48˚F)
Ocean Depth:  9.7 m (31.8 ft. at low tide)
Relative Humidity: 56%
Wind Speed:  18 kts (21 mph)
Barometer: 1,006 hPa (1,006 mbar)

Science and Technology Log: After a full day of flying, I arrived in Juneau, Alaska, on Sunday. The Fairweather came into dock early the next morning to host a very special occasion for friends, family, and the public. It was a Dependents Day Cruise to go with the Memorial Day celebration. It was an opportunity for those

151_3083 (2) — The NOAA Ship Fairweather in the bottom center docked in Juneau, Alaska, preparing for her next hydrographic leg.

who work onboard the Fairweather to show others outside of NOAA what they do while the crew, friends, family, and guests sailed onboard to the Taku glacier in Taku Inlet and back to dock in Juneau. The day was filled with demonstrations on what the crew does in order to complete their missions and the significance of having a ship such as the Fairweather fulfill its assigned tasks. We were split up into multiple groups in order to cover the basics of ship operations and the science and research carried out by the crew. Guests were treated to demonstrations of bridge operations, hydrographic survey techniques and equipment, dive operations and control station demonstrations. One highlight of the many demonstrations that were carried out

150_2900 (3) — The crew demonstrate a launch and retrieval of one of the hydrographic survey launches. The *Fairweather* has four of these 28′ boats including three additional boats for fast rescue and utility purposes.

was the showing of how the launch boats are lowered into the water and then retrieved. The Fairweather was maneuvered in such a way that the launch boat was provided a small patch of sea that was calm, a “duck pond,” by blocking the oncoming waves for the launch boat. While this was not necessary for the weather that day, it did drive home the point about the many ingenious methods that must be employed in carrying out day-to-day operations on a vessel like the Fairweather. By the time these demonstrations and tours were concluded, we had arrived at the Taku Inlet to see the Taku glacier.

Seeing something that is massive enough to carve solid rock such as the Taku glacier was awe inspiring. This brings us to one of the key reasons for the complexity of the local geology and the sea channels that the Fairweather will be mapping on the next leg. After periods of uplift and mountain building, the terrain was recently sculpted with rivers of ice flowing outward to lower sea levels from the ice fields above. Glaciers encapsulated much of Southeastern Alaska up until the Wisconsin glaciation came to an end about 14,000 years ago. During this same time, the Laurentide continental glacier still covered much of East River South Dakota. As the glaciers receded, the ocean levels rose to accommodate the global deluge of melt water. What was once

150_2940 (2) — The Taku glacier at the end of Taku Inlet displays the forces of erosion at a remarkable scale.

glaciated land is now well below sea level. Since glaciers have a remarkable power of erosion, U-shaped valleys have been carved throughout this region. Where these valleys dip below sea level, they frequently end up becoming important bays or passageways for commercial and private traffic. Glaciation has also given these passageways some unique characteristics that makes having reliable navigation mapping critical. Many of the navigable passageways in Southeastern Alaska are your characteristic fjords. They have been carved deeply by the weight of hundreds or even thousands of feet of ice; yet, they are usually narrow with valley walls that run vertically straight into the air. This topography largely continues below sea level meaning that in many locations the passageways, straits, and canals formed by glacial action can quickly deviate from hundreds of feet deep to shoals in a matter of very short distances. The complexity and potential hazards of these fjords is enhanced through the process of glacial isostatic adjustment when the earth shifts back upward after the massive weight of a glacier subsides. Take these relatively recent geological and climatological

150_3025 (2) — Much of the rock of the area shows obvious signs of glacial action scouring across the landscape such as this rock near the Mendenhall glacier outside of Juneau.

processes and apply them to the complex system of islands of the Alexander Archipelago that was formed through shifting transform boundaries between the North American and Pacific plates. Now one can start to appreciate the degree to which timely mapping is needed for this part of the world requiring precision and accuracy in order to provide nautical charts that cater to the needs of growing commercial and private interests in the area.

Personal Log:

Dear Mr. Cody,

We boarded our ship in San Francisco and cruised under the Golden Gate Bridge passing by Alcatraz Island. At sea I had the chance to tour the ship. It is huge! It holds 1,800 passengers and has a crew of 932. I am still learning how to get around the ship. It is like a little city on the ocean. (Dillion is one of my science students who went on an Alaska cruise with his family in May and will be corresponding with me about his experiences as I blog about my experiences on the Fairweather.)

20160508_085804 (2) — Dillion finally at sea en route to his first stop in Alaska.

Dear Dillion,

I boarded the Fairweather the day after I arrived in Juneau. I, too, am still learning my way around the ship and learning the names of the crew. Everyone on the crew has been very helpful in helping me find my way around the ship and learning about what they do to make the Fairweather’s mission successful. The Fairweather is designed to hold more than 50 crew members consisting of NOAA Corps officers, engineers, deck, survey, stewards, and electronic technicians. While your cruise ship is built for comfort for vacationers, the Fairweather is built for utility and efficiency in accomplishing a wide range of tasks. Though the Fairweather’s primary role is to carry out hydrographic mapping of the sea floor in order to provide reliable navigation charts and increase our understanding of the ocean floor, the ship’s crew has been involved in numerous other projects in just the last year including launching wave and weather monitoring buoys, contributing data to surveys tracking changing climate in the Arctic, participating in marine

WIN_20160602_173414 (2) — Unpacking and settling into my stateroom aboard the *Fairweather*.

mammal observations and new marine mammal survey techniques, carrying out phytoplankton tows, aiding the Navy in glider development, mapping nautical obstructions, and retrieving climate and ocean sensors.

Did You Know?

The Fairweather was launched in 1967 and named after Mount Fairweather in Alaska. She was constructed along with two other sister ships, the Rainier, in service, and the Mount Mitchell, retired from NOAA service. All three ships were named after tall mountains in the United States.

Can You Guess What This Is?

A. a vent B. a speaking tube C. a horn D. a periscope

The answer will be provided in the next post!

May 16, 2016August 21, 2021

Spencer Cody: 1,000 Miles or 70 Million Years, Whichever Is Closer – May 16, 2016

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Spencer Cody

Soon To Be Onboard the NOAA Ship Fairweather

May 29 – June 17, 2016

Mission: Hydrographic Survey

Geographical Area of the Cruise: Southeast Alaska Survey

Date: May 13, 2016

Personal Log:

*Dillion packing for his trip to Alaska with his family. Credit Suzi Vail for the photo.*

Dear Mr. Cody,

I am looking forward to relaxing and having a good time. Also, I have been on a ship two years ago which was on the Carnival Sunshine. I’m excited to explore new things on the ship. I’m looking forward to seeing the glaciers and seeing new things and learning new things! (Dillion is one of my science students who went on an Alaska cruise with his family in May and will be corresponding with me about his experiences as I blog about my experiences on the Fairweather.)

Dear Dillion,

I hope you enjoy your trip to Alaska with your family. Your cruise sounds very exciting. We missed you on the geology trip to the Black Hills, but Mrs. Kaiser was able to find a creative way to bring you with us. I look forward to hearing more about your trip when you get back and your continued correspondence concerning your trip. I am sure we will have a number of things in common with our trips to Alaska. Take care.

As I look forward to another mission with the NOAA Teacher at Sea program aboard the NOAA Ship Fairweather and the prospect of again being embedded among NOAA’s ocean research, I cannot help but to think back to our recent geology trip earlier this month and the implications of geology on geography on my next NOAA mission. The NOAA Ship Fairweather promises to be a very different experience than my experience aboard the NOAA Ship Pisces.

While Dillion was on his Alaska trip with his family, Mrs. Kaiser found a clever way to bring him with us. Look closely for Dillion on our tour through the Needles of the Black Hills of South Dakota. Credit Laurel Kaiser for the photo.

The Pisces was a survey ship that usually focused on fisheries missions similar to the Reef Fish Study that I worked on in 2014 while the Fairweather represents another key component of the NOAA fleet, the hydrographic ship. Yes, this is where geology meets mapping, and when these two come together in the ocean, it is NOAA’s task to ensure that the data needed to manage and safely navigate coastal waters is up to date and accurate.

It can be a challenge to ponder upon an obvious connection to the ocean in a state like South Dakota. During our geology field trip this May, there were times when we were no more than a few miles from the very center of North America’s landlocked isolation. It may be quite fitting that North America’s pole of inaccessibility, the point at which one is the farthest from every ocean shore is in the Badlands of South Dakota where 100 miles to each horizon one can look in such a place and easily be led to the conclusion that this is, indeed, an ocean-less planet that stretches endlessly into beautiful desolation.

Badlands II — If you squint you can just make out the sea shore in the distance…just kidding. The Badlands of South Dakota are as far as one can get from all shores in North America, more than 1,000 miles in every direction. Credit Laurel Kaiser for the photo.

But, that is the illusion of South Dakota. The reality is that we live on an ocean planet that is dominated ecologically and cyclically and in every conceivable way by a giant reservoir of water far bigger than the vastness of the great North American interior. The reality is that ocean deposits built much of what South Dakota is today through hundreds of millions of years of deposition. The reality is that South Dakotans are tied to the ocean in a multitude of ways, yet it slips the grasp of our awareness and often our understanding. Imagine the challenge with our students in South Dakota who have few, if any, personal experiences to draw upon when science teachers cover oceanography and other ocean sciences in classes throughout the state. Thankfully, programs such as NOAA’s Teacher at Sea are tremendously helpful in confronting this challenge through this valuable education and research program.

I have two primary goals during my mission: connecting NOAA’s oceanic and atmospheric work to the classroom and connecting students to the education and vocational pathways that could potentially lead to NOAA careers. Basically, I am to learn and document as much as I can on my mission and use this experience to enhance the education of my students and to provide access to possible careers in oceanic and atmospheric work through NOAA. I am greatly thankful and humbled to receive such an opportunity, yet again, through the NOAA Teacher at Sea program. This is truly another great opportunity for learning for both me and my school.

13177554_943959909055546_7135506633857238816_n — There was once an ocean here…70 million years ago. The great North American interior is largely comprised of ocean deposits of varying composition. Hundreds of vertical feet of this ancient marine mud, Pierre Shale, is exposed through much of West River South Dakota serving as a constant reminder of our ancient watery origins. Credit Laurel Kaiser for the photo.

As with me I will be starting my eleventh year of teaching in Hoven this August. I teach 7-12 science: Earth, Life, Physical, Biology, Biology II, Chemistry, and Physics. I am also the testing coordinator and student adviser for our school district. Like most staff members in a small school, one must get accustomed to wearing many hats with many roles. I enjoy teaching all of the varied sciences. It keeps my brain entertained and occupied! Hoven is a very nice town to live and teach in. It reminds me a lot of growing up in Veblen, another small, rural South Dakota town. I have always been an advocate for rural education and strongly believe that small schools like Hoven offer an exceptional learning experience for students.

Unfortunately, I will have to leave my wife, Jill, and my daughters, Teagan and Temperance, behind for a few weeks. I will miss them and did get a little home sick the last time with their absence.

I am counting down the days until I fly out on May 29 to Juneau, Alaska, where the Fairweather will be leaving. I am to report a week early in order to work with the crew of the Fairweather on tidal gauges. After my work with gauges, I will embark with the Fairweather on its mission and disembark in Ketchikan, Alaska. I am very excited about the research involved in my upcoming mission. I look forward to learning more about the various technological aspects of the mission and will report more on the subject once I am underway. For more information about the Fairweather, visit the Fairweather homepage.

FullSizeRender — My family and I and Einstein.

June 11, 2014August 21, 2021

Spencer Cody: NOAA Careers, June 10, 2014

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Spencer Cody

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

May 27 – June 11, 2014

Geographical Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico

Mission: SEAMAP Reef Fish Survey

Date: June 10, 2014

Observational Data:

Latitude: 28˚ 4.545 N

Longitude: 90˚ 43.557 W

Air Temp: 28.4˚C (83.1˚F)

Water Temp: 25.4˚C (77.7˚F)

Ocean Depth: 148.0 m (486 ft.)

Relative Humidity: 80%

Wind Speed: 11.8 kts (13.6 mph)

Barometer: 1,011.1 hPa (1,011.1 mbar)

Science and Technology Log:

106_0247 — Adria McClain, a survey technician, works on meteorological and oceanographic data collection in the acoustics lab.

It takes many different types of skill sets with many different types of backgrounds to make a NOAA mission like this a success. Since it takes all kinds of people to get the job done, NOAA needs people with all of these backgrounds working together as a team for a common goal. Maybe a NOAA career is in your future?

121_2160 — Physical scientist Joe Tegeder is tracking the progress of one of the night-long mapping missions. Since the mapping grids commonly resemble a tightly-knit zig-zag of mapping trails, they are commonly referred to as “mowing the lawn.” Such a pattern is needed in order to properly map a given area.

Do you have an interest in meteorology or oceanography? If so, NOAA needs you! Meet Adria McClain; Adria is a survey technician who is responsible for collecting meteorological and oceanographic data and managing and maintaining the databases that store these observations. She also helps integrate the Pisces’ system resources with each visiting science party. She has an undergraduate degree in biology, a masters in physical oceanography and meteorology. She was on active duty in the Navy for 10 years with the Meteorology and Oceanography Community or METOC. During those ten years, she served two tours with the Naval Oceanographic Office where she was a hydrographer using sonar to make nautical charts for the Department of Defense. She also served one tour at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center where she developed atmospheric and ocean models. She states that she very much likes her job even though she still has a lot to learn about fish and fishery biology since she does not have a background in those areas.

124_2189 — Lead fisherman Joe Flora is maintaining the weather deck by power washing surfaces. An advanced ship like the *Pisces* is a major investment in science and must be carefully maintained for future use.

Do you have an interest in the physical sciences and mapping? If so, NOAA needs you! Meet Joe Tegeder; Joe is a physical scientist who is responsible for using the acoustics equipment onboard specifically the ME-70 and the EK-60 in order to map fish habitat on the ocean bottom. He has both an undergraduate and graduate degree in marine science. He currently works for the Pacific Hydrographic Branch for NOAA where he primarily works with updating nautical charts in the U.S. waters of the Pacific. Previously, he worked for the Naval Oceanographic Office where he helped map out harbors from around the world to develop anti-mining operations for possible future military missions.

Do you have an interest in doing the hands-on operational work required to carry out fisheries science? If so, NOAA needs you! Meet Joe Flora; Joe is the lead fisherman onboard the Pisces. He helps implement all of the operational aspects of science missions by launching and retrieving science equipment, operating bandit reels, and cleaning and maintaining the ship in general. He was with the Military Sealift Command for eight years where he worked on refueling ships and transport operations involving cargo and ammunition. For the last nine years, he has worked in NOAA onboard the ships Thomas Jefferson, Gordon Gunter, and the Pisces. He has been on the Pisces for six years.

103_0062 — NOAA Corps officers are manning the bridge overseeing operations and ship resources. From left to right: Ensign Johnson, Commander Fischel, and Lieutenant Commander Mowitt.

Do you have an interest in hands-on science and exploration? If so, NOAA needs you! Meet the NOAA Corps; they navigate the ship, allocate and coordinate the ship’s resources with the crew and the embarking science party, and most importantly make sure all hands are kept out of harm’s way by implementing proper safety procedures and protocols. They bring all of the component parts together for a successful mission and try to make it as functional and as successful as possible. Applicants to the NOAA Corps must possess a minimum of a four year degree with a minimum of 48 semester hours in science, math, or engineering coursework. All of the officers onboard the Pisces have one thing in common: they have a background in science, mostly biology and marine biology. They also had to complete Basic Officer Training Classes after which they reported to a NOAA ship to serve onboard for two years where they learned watch duties and various other collateral duties along with all of the ship’s systems and operations. In addition to assigned duties, they needed to know how to deploy and recover a diverse array of equipment including fishing gear, oceanographic instrumentation, sonar devices, and underwater cameras. I could tell right away on the cruise that the officers had an inherent interest in science since they were always dropping in to see what we were working on exhibiting a genuine curiosity in the science that was going on. NOAA officers are rotated out of their work positions spending a certain period of time out to sea and on land in varying geographical areas with alternating assignments. This gives them a well-rounded experience in many aspects of NOAA’s mission.

124_2183 — Members of the science party processing and recording fish specimens in the wet lab. Pictured from left to right are Paul Felts, John Moser, Adam Pollack, and Harriet Nash.

Do you have an interest in working with food preparation and presentation? If so, NOAA needs you! Meet Moises Martinez and Mark Potter; Moises is the chief steward. His responsibilities include making sure there is enough storage for food, linens, and toiletries. He is also responsible for hospitality onboard the ship and cleaning of the galley and mess. He works with the second cook to preplan menus, but he really tries to take requests from the scientists and crew and responds accordingly. He knows that there is not as much to do at sea during downtime as on land; so, he appreciates how much people look forward toward their meals; he tries to make everyone happy when possible. He was in the Navy for eight years where he realized his interest in preparing food. Later he worked two years in Italy with the Military Sealift Command as a cook and a baker. When he came back to the United States, he found out that NOAA was trying to contact him to see if he was still interested in working for them. He found this to be surprising since he had forgotten that he had applied through NOAA before he left for Italy two years prior. He started out as a second cook for NOAA and has worked his way up the last six years. Meet Mark; he is the second cook onboard the Pisces. His responsibilities include cleaning, preparing food, cooking, and restocking. He used to work in computer servicing but had to make a career change due to the economic downturn. He liked preparing food; so, he decided to go back to school. He went to Great Lakes Culinary Institute in Traverse City, Michigan, where he worked with some world class chefs to learn what he needed to know in order to work onboard the Pisces. Prior to his assignment on the Pisces, he worked on freighters and research vessels in the Great Lakes for a couple of years.

Do you have an interest in engineering and mechanical systems? If so, NOAA needs you! Meet Jake DeMello; Jake is the chief engineer for the Pisces. His responsibilities include maintaining any mechanical, propulsion, or electrical system. He works to ensure that these systems are running safely and efficiently. He has worked for NOAA for six years. Prior to NOAA he worked in engineering on cruise ships and tankers. He has a BA in marine engineering from the California Maritime Academy and is licensed as an unlimited chief engineer through the Coast Guard.

105_0117 — The science party’s chief scientist, Kevin Rademacher, is coordinating from the dry lab a camera array drop with the bridge and the crew out on the weather deck.

Do you have an interest in science? If so, NOAA needs you! Meet the fishery research biologists onboard the Pisces; this includes the science party’s chief scientist and fishery research biologist, Kevin Rademacher, fishery research biologist Paul Felts, and fishery research biologist John Moser. Other members of the science party include fishery biologist Adam Pollack and guest scientist Harriet Nash. In order to be a fishery biologist, one needs a degree that includes courses such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, and various other aquatic topics. A background including technology, computer programming, and statistics is also useful when data analysis software is needed to produce maps and other displays of research data. Having research experience that gives one the ability to do the data collection and processing, trouble-shooting, and analysis that is needed to carry out fishery research is also necessary.

121_2155 — Jim Johnson works on the camera array after another full day of scheduled camera drops and data acquisition.

Do you have an interest in computers, computer programming, and electronics? If so, NOAA needs you! Meet Jim Johnson; Jim is an electronics technician for this mission. His responsibilities include data downloading and maintenance and repair of the camera array system. He started working for NOAA as a contractor and has been a NOAA employee for the last five years. He has a four year degree in electronic engineering technology and a background in computers, technology, and computer programming.

Personal Log: Unfortunately, my time on the Pisces is quickly coming to an end as the science carried out by the Pisces continues on for another leg of the SEAMAP survey. I am so grateful for this experience and this remarkable program that NOAA has in place to provide such research experiences for teachers. I look forward to developing materials in my classroom from this experience and making an impact on my students’ lives by sharing my experiences with STEM related NOAA careers. I am also thankful to all of the crew and scientists of the Pisces for showing patience in everything from explaining basic ship operations and procedures to showing me how to carry out some of the science onboard. The hands-on nature of the cruise made it an extremely valuable learning experience. It is my hope that this program will continue offering such opportunities to educators well into the future. I truly believe that the future of STEM-related jobs in the United States depends on programs like this to develop tomorrow’s scientists and engineers.

June 6, 2014August 21, 2021

Spencer Cody: A Floating City of Life, June 6, 2014

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Spencer Cody

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

May 27 – June 11, 2014

Geographical Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico

Mission: SEAMAP Reef Fish Survey

Date: June 6, 2014

Observational Data:

Latitude: 28˚ 18.164 N

Longitude: 92˚ 26.145 W

Air Temp: 27.7˚C (81.9˚F)

Water Temp: 25.5˚C (77.9˚F)

Ocean Depth: 86.1 m (282 ft.)

Relative Humidity: 76%

Wind Speed: 3.9 kts (4.5 mph)

Barometer: 1,011.5 hPa (1,011.5 mbar)

Science and Technology Log:

It has been the subject of many ocean myths and legends: ships becoming trapped in mats of thick, unrelenting seaweed. Of course, such stories are not true, but the giant mats of seaweed that inspired such fear in sailors hundreds of years ago are very real and are an important component of the Gulf of Mexico’s ecosystem. The Carthaginians and later the Romans first described a portion of the Atlantic covered in seaweed. By the 15^th century, the Portuguese had named the area the Sargasso Sea after the sargaco rock rose that grew in their water wells back home, which appeared to be similar to the seaweed that grew on the surface of the water in stagnant parts of the Atlantic. From this comes the genus name Sargassum or as it is commonly referred to along the Gulf coast as gulfweed.

In the Gulf of Mexico, Sargassum can form large mats acres in size. These large mats of brown algae provide a floating micro-ecosystem in the Gulf. Sargassum is a food source for many marine organisms. The mats also serve as a nursery for fish and invertebrate eggs and developing young. The thick mats provide structure and cover in an ocean environment that may be lacking in the necessary cover to support the development of their young and to keep them hid from potential predators. Within the mats many types of marine herbivores can be found. The presence of various herbivores draws in fish to feed on those organisms grazing on the Sargassum. In fact, some organisms have evolved to look like Sargassum for protection. One good example of this is a type of frogfish called the sargassum fish. The sargassum fish can appear to be brown, yellow, or olive depending on whatever color they need to be in order to blend in with the mat of algae.

P1020355 — Hardhat, life jacket, and work gloves are needed during operations on the weather deck. This is a picture of me placing a float on one of our bandit reel lines. Credit Kevin Rademacher for the photo.

Personal Log:

Safety is always a key concern when going on a survey aboard a research vessel such as the Pisces. This is especially true when a ship is moving and lifting the sensors and equipment to facilitate the science the Pisces is carrying out. Whenever we are launching or retrieving either the CTD or camera array, protective gear including a hardhat and a life jacket are required. Whenever we are using a bandit reel, the same equipment is needed as well. Losing someone overboard is a constant concern. That is why these precautions are taken whenever operations are occurring on a weather deck and is why we have drills for a man overboard situation to recover someone as fast as possible.

fire hose — Water hoses along with other fire suppression equipment are tested during one of our mandatory fire drills.

As with any building, fire is a serious threat. On a ship fire is a threat that endangers everyone onboard. Everyone is given an assignment list on their bunk card. Each bunk card lists the person’s individual emergency billet assignments for a fire, abandon ship, and a man overboard. During a fire everyone may end up becoming a part of the fire suppression crew. People need to report to there assigned stations. During a drill a mock fire is assessed and contained, and fire suppression equipment is tested out. The Pisces is designed to contain fire wherever possible by having heavy fireproof doors throughout the ship making it more difficult for fire to spread to other decks.

If an emergency requires the ship to be abandoned, people are required to report to specific life raft stations with life jackets, a survival suit, and other items in order to leave the ship behind. Life jackets and survival suits are found in our staterooms and throughout the ship. This is an act of last resort once every attempt to save the ship has been made. The Pisces is specifically designed to prevent water from entering cabins and corridors by using water tight doors. This is designed to either prevent taking on water or at least slow the process down enough to abandon ship.

102_0046 — Survival suits are both water tight and thermally insulated keeping a person who needs to abandon ship dry and warm. A flotation device is wrapped around the neck, which inflates, keeping the floating person upright in the water. Credit Adam Pollack for the photo.

Other general precautions must be observed onboard. Passengers and crew are not allowed to run while onboard for several reasons. The watertight doors come up from the floor by nearly a foot in addition to many other obstacles. Places like any of the weather decks or the wet lab where we process fish specimens are often wet and slippery. Perhaps the most obvious reason one should be careful moving around onboard is the movement of the ship itself. Large waves and swells can send the ship into an unpredictable motion. This makes even walking or standing difficult at times and is certainly disorienting. The Pisces has several features to accommodate this problem. Handle bars and railings are found throughout the ship in order to stabilize yourself during swells. Having a handle bar in the shower may seem rather over the top, but when your morning shower starts to resemble a theme park ride that you may have been on before, then you will start to understand why that feature is there. Cabinet and drawers are self-locking; otherwise, they would constantly slide in and out, which is why we had to tape down many of the drawers in the dry lab that do not have this feature. When you are on a moving ship, everything takes a little longer to do than on land. It is just something you have to get used to.

Did You Know?

Even water temperatures as high as 80˚F can be a hypothermia risk if exposed to it for long periods of time. Water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air of the same temperature.