Debbie Stringham – Page 2 – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

July 9, 2005March 18, 2021

Debbie Stringham, July 9, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Debbie Stringham
Onboard NOAA Ship Fairweather
July 5 – 15, 2005

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: North Pacific, Alaska
Date: July 9, 2005

Debbie Stringham pulling lines for bottom sampling

Weather Data

Location: Eagle Harbour, Shumagin Islands, AK
Latitude: 55 06.8’ N
Longitude: 160 06.9’ W
Visibility: 10 nm.
True Wind Speed: 16 kts.
True Wind Direction: 340
Sea Wave Height: 1 ft.
Swell Wave Height: none
Swell Wave Direction: none
Sea Water Temperature: 12.0 C
Sea Level Pressure: 1011.5 mb
Sky Description: Partly Cloudy
Dry Bulb Temperature: 15.5 C
Wet Bulb Temperature: 12.5 C

Science and Technology Log

Today, I was assigned to go on a bottom sampling launch. The purpose of these launches is to collect floor samples to determine the nature of the sea floor. The instrument used is called a bottom sampler and looks like a large heavy metal pipe about a foot in length and four inches in diameter. There is a large metal spring attached to the top of it along with a scooping mechanism that clamps shut when it hits the sea floor. On the other end, is an O-ring where a line can be strung through and attached to a pulley.

First, the designated sampling locations are decided by where they lie in relation to the coast. There are collection standards that regulate where sampling can occur and how often. If the region is deemed anchorage, then samples may be taken 1200 meters apart. If the region is not considered anchorage, then the samples need to be spaced 2000 meters apart. Using a Digital Terrane Model (DTM), the survey technician chooses an arbitrary point and fans out from there, choosing collection locations in accordance with the regulations above.

Once the bottom sampling is underway, the boat will use a Global Positioning System (GPS), to locate where a sample will be taken from. The survey technician will open the scooping mechanism and lower it over the side of the boat. When the bottom sampler hits the bottom, it will be brought back to the surface where the sample, if any, will be analyzed and recorded. If no sample is retrieved after three attempts, then the sea floor is recorded as hard. Survey technicians use abbreviated terms to describe the bottom samples. For example: crs S = coarse sand, brk Sh = broken shells, gy M = gray mud, med P = medium pebbles.

Question of the Day

Why is looking at the nature of the seafloor material important?

Answer from Previous Day

In the early days of sailing, the steering board (eventually to become starboard) was on the right hand side of the ship. And the side of the ship that was usually tied up to port was the left hand side. Sailors began calling the right side of the ship (when facing front) the starboard side and the left hand side of the ship port.

July 8, 2005March 18, 2021

Debbie Stringham, July 8, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Debbie Stringham
Onboard NOAA Ship Fairweather
July 5 – 15, 2005

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: North Pacific, Alaska
Date: July 8, 2005

Weather Data

Location: in transit
Latitude: 59 02.8’ N
Longitude: 152 33.6’ W
Visibility: 10 nm.
True Wind Speed: 10 kts.
True Wind Direction: 235
Sea Wave Height: 1-2 ft.
Swell Wave Height: 2-3 ft.
Sea Water Temperature: 12.7 C
Sea Level Pressure: 1000.5
Sky Description: Partly Cloudy
Dry Bulb Temperature: 15.9 C
Wet Bulb Temperature: 13.9 C

Science and Technology Log

I Woke up early again to stand watch on the bridge, but was informed by the XO that I would be out on a launch at 0800. He suggested I go back to bed and get ready for the day since it would probably be a long one. At 0800, the crew met on the fantail (stern of the ship) to discuss safety precautions, then the vessels were lowered over the side of the ship, where all of the equipment and crew were loaded, then placed in the water. Normally, the boat would head to a section of the coast, in this case the Shumigan Islands, to begin sound velocity casts, but our boat was having generator and engine troubles so we had to head back to the ship shortly after we departed. The captain, or commanding officer, gave me a book titled, How to Read a Nautical Chart, and briefly explained why ships travel the “great circle”. I read sections of the book and learned about Gnomonic versus Mercator projections.

On a Mercator projection, where latitudes and longitudes cross each other at right angles, a straight line is not the fastest course. This type of projection is best used for coastal sailing and is where the “great circle” comes in to play as the shortest route.

On the other hand, the Gnomonic projection is best used for open passage sailing. The latitude lines are seen as curved and the longitude lines are straight. On this type of projection the shortest distance is a straight line.

Question of the Day

Why do sailors refer to the sides of their boats as port side and starboard side?

Answer from Previous Day

Hydrography is the science that deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of bodies of water and their littoral land areas. Its primary use is for nautical charting, but it is also important for port and harbor maintenance, coastal engineering, coastal zone management, and offshore resource development.

July 7, 2005March 18, 2021

Debbie Stringham, July 7, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Debbie Stringham
Onboard NOAA Ship Fairweather
July 5 – 15, 2005

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: North Pacific, Alaska
Date: July 7, 2005

Weather Data
Location: in transit
Latitude: 55 37.5’ N
Longitude: 156 17.8’ W
Visibility: 10 nm.
True Wind Speed: 14 kts.
True Wind Direction: 295
Sea Wave Height: 1 ft.
Swell Wave Height: 2-4 ft.
Swell Wave Direction: 270
Sea Water Temperature: 13.1 C
Sea Level Pressure: 1007.6
Sky Description: Clear
Dry Bulb Temperature: 14.9 C
Wet Bulb Temperature: 13.0 C

Science and Technology Log

I woke up at 0300 to stand watch on the bridge with the XOs– Shifts are usually four hours on and eight hours off. I learned how to use the Combined Wind Plotting Board Calculator to determine true wind speed and direction. I estimated wave and swell heights and direction and collected data on dry and wet bulb temperatures, latitude and longitude, barometric pressure and sky description. Weather readings are collected every hour on the bridge while en route.

In order to find true wind, one must find the bearing and speed of the ship from a GPS unit and correlate that on the plotting board. Then, apparent wind speed and bearing are taken from an anemometer and plotted on the board. When the board is spun and the two points are aligned vertically, one can correlate those points to find the true bearing and the difference between those two points give true wind speed in knots.

While on the bridge, I also learned the reference system that crew members use to indicate another ship, landmark, or object in the ocean. For example, if a light is spotted at 45 degrees from the bow of the ship, then one would say, “There is a light, broad on Starboard Bow.” If the light were on the portside at 270 degrees, then one would report, “There is a light, broad on Port Beam.” The 360 degrees view is actually broken into bearing points. A point equals 11 degrees and there are 32 points in all. During my watch, I was able to spot whales at both of the locations mentioned above.

Question of the Day

What is hydrography and why is it important?

Answer from Previous Day

1 fathom equals six feet.

July 6, 2005March 18, 2021

Debbie Stringham, July 6, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Debbie Stringham
Onboard NOAA Ship Fairweather
July 5 – 15, 2005

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: North Pacific, Alaska
Date: July 6, 2005

Weather Data

Science and Technology Log

Departed Homer at 1333, assisted with the mooring ropes, and explored facilities to orient myself with the ship’s layout. The Field Operations Officer (FOO), former Executive Officer (XO), and the XO’s replacement showed me safety drill procedures for fire, abandon ship, and man over board. The crew is required to practice these drills weekly and be prepared for any such event that might occur. Everyone on board has a specific place they need to be when they hear a specific alarm.

One long wailing blast, 10 seconds or more, means fire, more than six blasts means abandon ship, and three blasts means man over board. I was also given safety tips of when to wear a hard hat, gloves, and positive buoyancy clothing. I watched the NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER Vessel Familiarization CD on a crew computer, set up and checked my NOAA email account, and looked through maritime books in the lounge in order to familiarize myself with basic seamanship terms.

I spoke with three survey technicians about their education and where they were from and was surprised to find that two of them had graduated in Geography and one of them in Biology. Most crew aboard this ship come from coastal areas such as California, Washington, or Florida where the ocean has been a strong influence in their lives. One survey tech said that the coolest thing he’s seen while surveying was when he had to stop operations because there were too many whales.

Question of the Day

How deep is 1 fathom?

July 5, 2005March 18, 2021

Debbie Stringham, July 5, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Debbie Stringham
Onboard NOAA Ship Fairweather
July 5 – 15, 2005

Mission: Survey
Geographical Area: North Pacific, Alaska
Date: July 5, 2005

Personal Log

I arrived at Homer Airport at 2015 and called the FAIRWEATHER Officer on Deck (OOD) to find the location of the ship and if there was a ride available. Unfortunately, I was only able to reach answering machines. It seems all of the ship’s phone lines were down. At 2230, two local girls offered me a ride to the harbor and assisted in finding where the ship was docked. By 0000, I was on board and given a tour, along with the two locals, by the FAIRWEATHER’s Chief Survey Technician. The ship is 231 feet long and 42 feet in breadth and I’m amazed at how large it feels inside. I’ll inhabit a single state room on the starboard side of the ship for the next ten days!