Hydrographic survey – Page 79 – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

April 13, 2005March 18, 2021

Melissa Fye, April 13, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Melissa Fye
Onboard NOAA Ship Hi’ialakai
April 4 – 25, 2005

Mission: Coral Reef Ecosystem Survey
Geographical Area: Northwest Hawaiian Islands
Date: April 13, 2005

Location: Latitude: 23*48.6’N, Longitude:166*18.8’W

Weather Data from the Bridge
Visibility: 10 Nautical Miles
Wind Direction:120
Wind Speed:14 knots
Sea Wave Height:1-2 feet
Swell Wave Height: 2-3 feet
Sea Level Pressure: 1017.6
Cloud Cover: 4/8 Cu Clouds
Temperature outside: 25.6 degrees Celsius

Science and Technology Log

At approximately 7:45 this morning, the AHI (Acoustic Habitat Investigator), research boat was launched from the side of the ship using the crane system. Three scientists were onboard to continue mapping the ocean floor using the sonar system attached to the bottom of the AHI. This work would take them until four o’clock this afternoon. Meanwhile, back on the HI’IAKALAI, the NOAA officers on board led meetings on safety and concerns, etc. with the crew and department heads.

The meeting lasted over 2 hours and gave the officers, engineers, and crew a chance to discuss problems, vent frustrations, and get routine meetings finished. The scientists were not involved in those meetings so the dry lab was full of scientists processing data from the ship’s onboard sonar system. I helped edit data swaths (lines of data collected about the ocean floor) for several hours. It is interesting to note that the data that is collected from the multibeam sonar systems is information portrayed in number form. Those numbers are then represented on the computers screens as various degrees of color, depending on the depth of the ocean floor. Data is taken out that lies outside the path or swath ( it is as if the ship is “mowing” lines across the ocean to gather because data like noise pollution is sometimes recorded (noise pollution can involve school of fish, etc.).

This day involved many people just sitting in the computer lab using their laptops to combine data into tables and mapping pictures. As the afternoon progressed, the AHI came back to the ship and was hoisted aboard once more by the cranes. CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) casts were made twice throughout the day. The ship stopped to put the CTD device in the water and measure for this information. The information was used by scientists to verify their sonar data. Conductivity refers to salinity of the ocean water. The ship continued to run benthic habitat mapping lines all day long.

Underwater pinnacles found by the underwater mapping system

Personal Log

I spent the day in the dry lab (computer lab) for the most part. I edited data for the scientists and interviewed three people on board. I interviewed Commanding Officer Scott Kuester, ENS Amy Cox, and GVA Greg Wells while on their watch on the bridge. Their watch schedule consists of four hour shifts on the bridge, watching the sea, recording weather data, and communicating with all hands about operations on the ship. Commanding Officer (CO) Kuester is originally from Michigan and has been sailing for twenty years. His background involves a degree in U.S. Merchant Marine and he told me if someone is interested in a career in the NOAA Corps, they need to possess a bachelor of science degree. Related fields in calculus and physics are also helpful. CO Keuster has sailed may places including the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. All NOAA Corps employees have rotational land and sea assignments and there are 5 NOAA officers aboard this ship. Current assignments aboard this ship last for 2 years and then a land assignment will occur for a few years. The CO has had land assignments in Silver Spring, MD at NOAA headquarters. His overall responsibilities are to stand watch as needed, and he has the responsibility of insuring the safety of the ship and all those onboard, as well as working with the lead scientist to ensure the scientific mission is completed for each cruise. The ship also collects environmental data on the weather at sea, which is used by federal agencies.

CO Keuster gave me an overview of many of intricate devices on the ship’s bridge, including the state of the art radar. I learned new terms like dead reckoning and nautical miles. Commanding Officer Scott Keuster recommended that anyone interested in a career in the NOAA Corps, should use their experience in college to gain more knowledge about computers. Diving knowledge is also helpful. In his opinion, a person for this job needs to adapt easily to stressful situations, know the meaning of teamwork, should be professional, and be able to live amongst others in close quarters.

I also interviewed ENS Amy Cox, the newest Corp officer to the ship, and GVA Greg Wells. ENS Cox is also originally from Michigan, and has training through the NOAA Corps as well as B.S. and B.A. degrees in Chemistry and Zoology. She has worked in Alaska aboard ships for the fisheries department; estimating catch of certain species, and population and reproduction rates of fish in that area. She enjoys her new sea assignment here in Hawaii and as an ESN she is responsible for using charts and GPS to map track lines, collecting weather data, maneuvering the ship, and for ship’s morale (by running the ship store, providing movie selections for broadcast at night, etc.)

GVA (General Vessel Assistant) Greg Wells also spoke to me while on watch. His permanent home is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and has worked for NOAA for 4 years. His previous occupation was as an EMT in Seattle, Washington. NOAA has provided him with training like Bridge Resource Management and licensing courses. He will spend roughly 200 days at sea this year working for NOAA and while onboard, has responsibilities of driving the boat, operating cranes, machinery, and CTD operations.

It was exciting to stand on the bridge with them at night. The bridge was completely dark except for the glow of the red lights from radar and machinery. The ENS and GVA also went through a series of very ritualized, historic direction language as they maneuvered the ship into mapping lines. The bridge has to be kept dark so that watch standers can see out into the ocean for any changes or danger that lies ahead.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: My cruise along the HI’IAKALAI has been fairly smooth so far, but keep in mind that the ship rocks back and forth (called rolling) all the time. If the seas (waves) were to get rougher the ship would roll port to starboard (left to right) and it might also begin to move up and down, which is called pitching. If the ship rolls 9 times in one minute in 1-2 foot seas, how many times will it roll in one hour? How many times will it roll in one 24 hour period?

ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’s Question: using a reference source find out more about the whitetip reef shark 1) list 3 facts about this shark: usually 5 feet long, diet includes lobster, crab, eels, reef fish cave is used as a habitat 2) list the name of the reference source you used: Sharks of Hawaii by Leighton Taylor 3) draw a food chain for the shark like this example: white tipped reef shark—-(eats)-> eel(eats)—->reef fish

April 12, 2005March 18, 2021

Melissa Fye, April 12, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Melissa Fye
Onboard NOAA Ship Hi’ialakai
April 4 – 25, 2005

Mission: Coral Reef Ecosystem Survey
Geographical Area: Northwest Hawaiian Islands
Date: April 12, 2005

Location: Latitude: 23*36.3’North, Longitude: 164*43.0’W

Weather Data from the Bridge
Visibility: 10
Wind Direction:90
Wind Speed: 14 knots
Sea Wave Height: 2-4 feet
Swell Wave Height: 5-7 feet
Sea Level Pressure: 1018.8
Cloud Cover: 2/8 Cu, As, Si
Temperature outside: 24.4

Science and Technology Log

The ship arrived overnight near Tern Island in the Northern Hawaiian Island Chain. The AHI research boat was deployed early this morning again today to continue survey lines with its sonar equipment. Aboard the AHI were scientists Scott Ferguson, Joyce Miller, and Rob O’Connor. They returned to the HI’IAKALAI at approximately 1 PM to trade personnel, swapping Scott and Rob for Scientist Emily Lundblad and Jeremy Jones. The lead scientists are in the process of training the new scientists on how to use the sonar equipment aboard the AHI, and schedule people for half day trips at this time for training.

Meanwhile, back on board the ship, data from the multibeam sonar equipment continued to be edited in the computer lab. The edited swaths of data will then be compiled to form maps of the ocean floor. It’s an ongoing process that will continue until the end of the cruise and back at labs on dry land. Scientist Kyle Ferguson, Joe Chojnacki, Rob O’Connor and I then boarded the HI#1 10m Speedboat, with BGL Keith Lyons in control, to drive out to the CREWS (Coral Reef Early Warning System) buoy that was installed on the reef just east of Tern Island yesterday. The scientists finished anchoring it permanently, using wire cutters and other tools to secure it, then basic plastic ties were added to the top of the buoy, near the measurement equipment, placed sticking up, to keep birds from roosting and defecating all over the buoy, which could make it ineffective for transmitting data through satellite systems.

After completing the task at hand, we were given permission to explore the ecosystem under La Perouse Pinnacle nearby. We snorkeled to discover white tip reef sharks, giant green turtles, chum fish, and coral acropora (table coral) below the water’s surface at the rock outcropping. We returned to the ship some 15 minutes later without incident. While we were gone the ship continued survey lines NW and SE of the French Frigate Shoals and practiced the weekly fire and safety drills.

Personal Log

After breakfast today, I was invited to attend a trip to the CREWs buoy installed yesterday by Scientist Kyle Hogrefe. Plans got changed and we were delayed, not leaving until 1:00. The seas were much calmer than my previous trip on Monday (seas were only 1-2 feet this day) and we boarded the speedboat. When we arrived at the buoy location, the 2 divers worked on securing the line while scientist Rob O’Connor and I looked on and snorkeled around them. The water there was not very deep (maybe 15 feet) but the current made it fairly cloudy, difficult to see through, and I was amazed and how strong the pressure was on your ears as soon as you dove down. You have to be careful when you dive or you can get a bloody nose from diving too deep. I got used to the snorkeling mask and at the end of the work we took turns getting on the CREWS buoy for pictures.

Once back on board the HI#1 speedboat, we were told over the radio that we could go snorkeling at La Perouse Pinnacle, only a couple miles away in the distance. What a great treat! We jumped in and immediately saw a thriving ecosystem below our feet. The underwater current wasn’t nearly as severe in this location and it was almost protected from the rock outcropping towering above. La Perouse Pinnacle is a volcanic rock about 122 feet high and 60 yards long that is used by sailors as a landmark around the atoll. It is nearly inaccessible because it is so steep and rugged and its guano-coated (bird poop coated) outline resembles an old brig ship with billowing sails from a distance.

As soon as we dove in we saw 2 white tip reef sharks about 15 feet below. After being reassured they wouldn’t bother us, I got comfortable and snorkeled around! The sharks were no more than about 6 feet in length and just swimming below. There was also a giant green sea turtle resting on the reef below and millions of fish and coral systems. Several rare table coral (coral acropara) were noticed and I took pictures of everything intermingling in this ecosystem. An underwater cave was the main habitat of the shark, and two of the scientists swam in and out to see it. Fish darted in and out and the colors of the coral here were brighter and easier to see because of the lack of strong current. It was a fantastic experience! An adventure I didn’t think I would ever get to do, and was pleasantly surprised! My students wanted to know if I was going to swim with the sharks while on this cruise and now I can tell them I sure did!

QUESTION OF THE DAY for my fourth grade students: The white tipped reef shark was one of the animals I discovered today in the coral reef ecosystem I was snorkeling in. Using a reference source: 1) list 3 facts about this shark 2) list the name of the reference source you used 3) draw a food chain for the shark like this example: white tipped reef shark—-(eats)-> __________–(eats)—->________

ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S QUESTION (Log 8): A barometer measures sea level pressure. The barometer reading from that log was 1017.9 (high). High pressure brings good weather, low pressure usually indicates a storm. The barometer reading is one of the most important pieces of equipment on the ship’s bridge, and is checked every hour because if the measurements begin to indicate a change, the captain can prepare for a storm coming.

April 11, 2005March 18, 2021

Melissa Fye, April 11, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Melissa Fye
Onboard NOAA Ship Hi’ialakai
April 4 – 25, 2005

Mission: Coral Reef Ecosystem Survey
Geographical Area: Northwest Hawaiian Islands
Date: April 11, 2005

Main Control Console in the Engineering Department

Location: Latitude: 23*36.3’North, Longitude: 164*43.0’W

Science and Technology Log

Early before dawn the HI’IAKALAI departed Bank 66 and headed back toward the French Frigate Shoals. Upon reaching the French Frigate Shoals, the AHI research boat was launched. Lead scientist Scott Ferguson, surveyor Jeremy Miller, and scientist Jonathan Weiss clamored aboard the AHI for another day of survey with multibeam sonar equipment fixed to the bottom of the AHI. The AHI can get into the much shallower shoals and atolls to survey the ocean bottom. They surveyed until late in the afternoon near 23 degrees 49.6’North and 166 degrees 18.9′ West. Around 8:30 AM, a second boat, the HI#1 speedboat was deployed towing a CREWS buoy.

Lead scientists for this operation were Kyle Hogrefe and scientist Jeremy Jones, Executive Officer John Caskey, and Joe Chojnacki also accompanied him. This type of buoy is tall and slender and its acronym stands for Coral Reef Early Warning System. One system on board the buoy measures the amount of photosynthesis being made by organisms living in coral in that area of the water. It helps scientists determine if they reef is healthy or not. While on the dive to install the buoy, Jeremy Jones was underneath the buoy to tie it off and a strong current pushed him into the buoy anchor. He soon resurfaced and scrambled to get back in the water because a 9 foot Tiger Shark was seen nearby. He was brought back to the HI’IAKALAI and examined by the Medical Officer’s onboard. Because this work can be dangerous, the ship crew and scientists are always thinking about safety.

Hogrefe and the others returned to the dive operation site to complete the work and to tow in the old CREWS buoy. At 4:45, the AHI research boat returned to the ship and at 5:45 the HI#1 also returned for the night. They were both lifted up on board using a series of cranes. The HI’IAKALAI resumed running benthic habitat mapping lines across deeper parts of the ocean. I spent the day on a guided tour of the ship’s machinery in the engineering department below decks. Lobo Thomala, Chief Engineer, guided me through the masses of generators, compressors, ac units, fire fighting equipment, converters, propulsion units, etc. that make the ship sail. It was interesting to see the main control console, which contained old and new (computerized) versions of controlling the ship. There are several backup ways of steering the ship if the computer systems go down, which would be done manually by the chief engineer in the hull of the ship. The rudder could even be controlled by a system of chains if all else fails. The “brain” of the ship is integrated and controlled by computer systems, and actually some of the systems are DOS, which the chief engineer can read. GE still makes the parts to replace the DOS system so it will remain that way.

Personal Log

After eating breakfast this morning, I sent out my logs and emails to students and other interested parties. I attended a tour of the working parts of the ship, lead by Chief Engineer Lobo Thomala. I was shown the water making unit for our drinking water, air compressors, main control console, port power converter, main propulsion unit, etc. It is very tight quarters down below, which actually rides 16 feet below the water’s surface. For some areas you have to wear protective ear wear because the engine room is so loud. It is also very hot in some areas and very cool, air conditioned in the computer areas of the ship. There is fire fighting equipment in every area. The amount of detailed work and responsibility heaped on the engineers was impressive to see. The Chief Engineer basically controls whether or not the ship sails, and was part of the last graduating class of American Marine Academy in Louisiana. He acts almost as a trainer now, working on a ship, training the other engineers, and moving on to another ship in about a year’s time.

The engineer department on board is actually short handed right now, possessing only 4 engineers, rather than the normal six. They’ve commented that they are a “dying breed” and it is becoming increasingly difficult to fill positions. I also spent the rest of the evening editing swaths of data about the ocean floor bottom for the scientists and I took readings from the bridge and learned how to do the hourly bridge weather with the Operations Officer. Information on the cloud cover, temperature, sea heights, and pressure are measured (listed at the beginning of each log). The night brought on answering emails from students and a newspaper reporter.

QUESTION OF THE DAY for my fourth grade students: One important piece of weather equipment used on the bridge is a barometer and readings are taken from the barometer every hour. What does a barometer measure? From the information listed at the top of this log, does a barometer measure the a) temperature b) cloud cover c) sea level pressure What was the barometric reading for this log?____ What can the barometric pressure tell a sailor about the weather? Think back to low pressure and high pressure warnings…………

April 10, 2005March 18, 2021

Melissa Fye, April 10, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Melissa Fye
Onboard NOAA Ship Hi’ialakai
April 4 – 25, 2005

Mission: Coral Reef Ecosystem Survey
Geographical Area: Northwest Hawaiian Islands
Date: April 10, 2005

Location: Latitude: 23*36.3’North, Longitude: 164*43.0’W

Science and Technology Log

The plan of the day was to arrive back at Necker Island around 8:00 AM. (We were traveling back forth often between the middle of the island chain). Around 8:30 AM the AHI research boat was deployed to run survey lines around the more shallow areas. 9:00 AM brought the deployment of the HI #1 speed boat into the sea. The purpose of its voyage was to replace a SST buoy (Sea Surface Temperature buoy) and anchor an ODP (Ocean Data Platform) at Mokumanamana. I came along to photograph the work put in to these diving operations. The transport was rough as it was as warm as normal, and the seas were very choppy. We arrived at the rock outcropping, and using GPS navigational systems, located the coordinates for where the ODP was to be located on the sea floor. Divers prepared themselves (Scientist Jeremy Jones, Kyle Hogrefe, and Joe Chojnacki, along with ENS Sarah Jones) and all 4 descended about 75 feet under the water to find the device. After 30 minutes they resurfaced unable to find the ODP. They came aboard and regrouped.

A school of dolphins encircled our boat while tactics were being discussed. In effort to conserve air and because the current was strong and pulling them under the water, they decided to only send 2 divers to try to locate the ODP a second time. Joe Chojnacki and Jeremy Jones resurfaced again after the second try only to be frustrated. The pinger was losing and gaining pings erratically and was found to be useless.

In a last attempt the driver of our boat, Keith Lyons, decided to drive the boat over top of the boat’s GPS coordinates, instead f referring to the diver’s handheld GPS, and asked the divers to put the pinger right into the water to see of they picked up any signal. The pinger again was unreliable. Finally, Joe Chojnacki stuck his head over the boat, and looking through his snorkeling mask saw the ODP right below us! Kyle Horgrefe and ENS Sarah Jones scrambled to gear up and went below to tie off a buoy to the ODP so they could resurface and know its location. The last dive required 3 of the divers to replace the ODP with a new data platform. An ODP gathers information but that information can only be used once its been retrieved from the ocean’s bottom; unlike a Sea Surface Temperature Buoy which can relay information in real time because it stays on the surface and satellites receive the information all the time. The divers connected a bag, like balloon, to the new ODP to move it into place and reposition it over the former data platform. The dive was completed but air tanks were low so we drove back to the HI’IALAKAI and exchanged air tanks, dropped off ENS Sarah Jones, and myself. The 3 divers continued on to replace a SST buoy. I didn’t stay aboard for the remainder of the dive because of the rough seas and I was freezing because I didn’t have a wet suit.

Lincoln’s Head (volcanic rock) near dive site

Personal Log

I awoke and ate breakfast. I then began to prepare to go on a dive operation with 3 scientists and ENS Jones this morning. I slathered on SPF and a bathing suit, shorts, and a rash guard (thin shirt often worn by surfers as protection from salt water irritation). I donned a hard hat and life vest and borrowed a snorkel and fins from members onboard in case we were in shallow enough waters to snorkel and so I could see the divers working. We loaded the HI #1 speed boat with tons of equipment and were lowered to the ocean on a pulley system. The sea was extremely rough and the boat finally broke free from the ship to the rock outcropping where the dives were to be performed. The rock outcropping is nicknamed Lincoln’s Head because the side view looks like Lincoln’s profile. We arrived and performed the diving operations aforementioned in the science log. It was exciting to see the work being done and how precarious diving can be. It requires a lot of equipment and effort, especially when weather conditions are less than ideal.

Dolphins swam right up to the boat at one point and the divers saw sharks down below. They assured me they were just curious and not very big sharks! Other than that the divers said we were in too deep of water to snorkel and the water was churning because of underwater currents. I couldn’t dive so I sat onboard and photographed the trip and proceeded to get wet from sea spray. Tern birds flew overhead the entire time biting at the buoy, lines, antennae on the boat, and the air bubbles that surfaced from the divers. The birds mistake anything out of place for food. Because I wasn’t doing the dive work I got very cold and decided to return to the ship when we dropped off ENS Sarah Jones.

I didn’t get to snorkel this day but hopefully I’ll have another chance in the next 2 weeks. I spent the evening trying to warm myself and recover from the bumps and bruises incurred from getting on and off the HI#1. Everything is very slippery on those boats and it’s easy to lose you balance. Plus, every time we ride up next to the ship, we get doused with water coming out of the bottom of the ship.

QUESTION OF THE DAY for my fourth grade students: The 2 devices (the SST buoy and the ODP) are put in the ocean by divers so that scientists can gather information about the conditions in the ocean over a long period of time. By now, in class, you are beginning to learn about different ecosystems in science class. Cause and effect: What are some examples of conditions that could change in the ocean ecosystem that could be discovered from the data being collected by these buoys (name at least 3)? Try to think how weather or man can affect an ecosystem. Here is an example to get you started ……

ocean temperatures could gradually be getting warmer…….. killing the coral reef……..loss of habitat for fish
(hint: salinity (saltiness))
(hint: ocean water currents)

April 9, 2005March 18, 2021

Melissa Fye, April 9, 2005

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Melissa Fye
Onboard NOAA Ship Hi’ialakai
April 4 – 25, 2005

Mission: Coral Reef Ecosystem Survey
Geographical Area: Northwest Hawaiian Island
Date: April 9, 2005

Location: Latitude: 28.5 N, Longitude: 49.3 W

Weather Data from the Bridge
Visibility: 10 nautical miles
Wind Direction: 42
Wind Speed: 16 kts
Sea Wave Height: 3 feet
Swell Wave Height: 3-4 feet
Sea Water Temperature: N/A
Sea Level Pressure: 1021 mb
Cloud Cover: 3/8 SC, AS, Ci

Science and Technology Log

As survey lines continued through the night, the Chief Scientist Scott Ferguson, Joyce Miller, and Jeremy Jones readied the AHI (Acoustic Habitat Investigator) research boat for deployment. Around 7:30 this morning, the 3 boarded the vessel and to engage in more sonar surveying. At noon a shuttle boat was launched with survey scientist Emily Lundblad aboard, to meet up with AHI so she could be trained in using the sonar system aboard the AHI. Scott Ferguson then returned to the HI’IALAKAI. The afternoon led the ship divers to take out another shuttle boat so that a proficiency dive could be conducted. Around 5:00 pm the AHI and shuttle boat were brought back into the ship and tied up for the night.

Personal Log

Much of this day was spent interviewing personnel while I began to edit data from the swaths taken by the ship’s multibeam sonar system. It can take an hour or more to edit at noise pollution from just one file of data. An exciting part of the day included seeing a humpback whale in the ocean. It came very close to the ship. About every 10 minutes its blowhole (spouting water) would appear at the surface along with its tail. It only surfaced three times until it was too far off to see anymore. I finished editing data until dinner time and then succumbed to doing laundry on the ship!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Using your science book or another resource, find the definition of a mammal. Is a whale a mammal? Why do you think it comes to the surface every 10 minutes?