Tag: hydrography

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Sabrina Whitaker: Night Life, August 20-21, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sabrina Whitaker

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

August 18 – 31, 2026

Mission: Hydrographic Survey, Leg 3

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Ontario

Date: August 20-21, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 43°22.554’N

Longitude: 76°44.490’W

Winds: South-South East at 5 knots

Temperature:  60° F

Science and Technology Log

I spent the overnight shift with Hydrographic senior survey technician Emily Madish tonight. Her shift starts at 3:30 p.m. and goes until 3:30 a.m. She worked with two other crew members in the survey room: Operations Officer Jessie Spruill and Hydrographic Survey Tech Hannah Hernandez. There were more members of the crew on the deck navigating the ship through the dark waters. 

a woman sits at a desk facing an array of 7 computer monitors
Emily keeping track of the ship and the data coming in

I took the opportunity of the quiet evening and having fewer people around to have Emily walk me through the process for collecting data on NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson and to explain how the scientific equipment on the ship works to collect depth data. 

Hydrographic surveys make use of a variety of fundamental physics concepts. One of them is how sound travels. Sound travels at a constant speed through a medium (a material like water or air) unless the properties of the medium change. In lake or ocean water, properties that could change the speed are the salinity, temperature, and depth. Thomas Jefferson accounts for these possible changes by collecting that information using the Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) and collecting that data approximately every hour so that the data collected by the ship can use the most accurate information to create the depth profiles. 

three graphs in a row with different x-axes: sound speed (meters per second), temperature (degrees Celsius), and salinity (practical salinity units), all versus the same y axis of depth in meters
This is the graph the MVP software displays, collects, and transfers to other software that works in conjunction with the MVP. This is one of the casts taken from Thomas Jefferson

Once the speed of sound in the area has been collected, the time it takes for the sound to go to the bottom of the seafloor (or in this case lakebed) is collected. From there, the depth of the seafloor can be calculated using the equation:

Velocity equals depth over time

To solve for depth, it becomes

depth equals velocity times time

However, the time included at this point includes both the time leaving the ship and going to the seafloor and back again, which can be visualized like this: 

illustration of a ship at the surface of the water sending out sound waves, shown as solid arcs, to the seafloor, and those sound waves bouncing back (shown as dotted arcs) toward the ship
(image from: https://www.americanoceans.org/facts/what-is-sonar/)

To account for the reflection, the time that is collected is cut in half and the new equation becomes:

depth equals velocity times time divided by 2

(Note: hydrographers use different letters to represent these variables, but I’m keeping everything in notation my high school students are or will be familiar with. They mean the same thing.)

Now, this seems relatively straight forward so far. However, what is really cool is that the ship is not taking just one sounding (depth measurement). Instead, the ship is sending out SONAR in a fan shape using a multibeam or side scan, which can be visualized as follows: 

illustration of a swath of sound waves emanating from beneath a ship and sweeping over the seafloor to different depths
Typical geometry of bottom tracking multibeam sonar. 
Image from Mayer, Larry & Li, Yanchao & Melvin, Gary. (2002). 3D visualization for pelagic fisheries research and assessment. ICES Journal of Marine Science – ICES Journal of Marine Science. 59. 216-225. (ResearchGate)

This allows not only the various depths of the sea floor to be collected, but because many (MANY) soundings are taken at once, the soundings can also translate into images and an image of the seafloor can be created. In addition to an image of the seafloor, it is also possible to find out if there are any hazards to shipping or features on the seafloor. For example, in Lake Erie on the last leg of the mission a lot of shipwrecks were seen, and while there haven’t been any shipwrecks found on my leg as far I know, some features of the lakebed, like glacial scarring may have been seen, along with a lot of rocks. A lot of rocks. 

photo of a computer screen displaying color-coded depths readings along a band of the seafloor (lakefloor)





The path of the ship (yellow and green, this also shows the depth of the area as well) and an initial image of the seafloor.
soundings data shown in black and white - there are diagonal bands across this swath
Notice in the black and white image the possible glacial scarring that can be seen).

It is also possible to see schools of fish in the water column or capture an image of a whale with the multibeam or sidescan.

photo of a laminated page attached to a wall with magnets. the printed page displays side scan sonar readouts - divided by a white band in the middle where the ship is located - and the scanned image shows mostly soft rippling of a seafloor, with one very distinct white whale-shaped silhouette to the left of the ship. the page is titled: "A Whale, Captured in Side Scan Sonar Imagery!!!"
A picture of a side scan that shows a whale that is displayed on Thomas Jefferson

To get to the point of creating an image and having the image accurately represent the location of where the data was taken to create a meaningful map, while also correcting the data for errors and the motion of the ship requires many steps. 

First, the Seafloor Information System collects real time depth data being collected by the multibeam sonar, while HYSWEEP communicates with the bridge. Those in survey use HYPACK to make planned survey lines, and those on the bridge use HYSWEEP and follow those lines. The bridge and the survey team are in constant communication while this process is ongoing.

photo of a computer screen displaying the output from the HYSWEEP software. there is a straight red line showing the ship's trajectory, across a wide blue field representing the lake. the ship's position is noted on the line, and behind it is a band of depth readings.
The path as shown in HYSWEEP that both the bridge and the survey team can see

Thomas Jefferson travels back and forth like someone mowing their yard with long back and forth lines that overlap by about 20% to make sure that no areas are missed. 

photo of a computer screen displaying two different swaths (passes of the ship's sonar readings) overlapping on the same field. the readings are color coded by depth.
This is the second swath the ship makes as it goes past the same location as the image above with the glacial scarring

The ship also collects what is called crosslines, which must be collected for every 4% or 8% of the lines collected that are parallel to each other, depending on the spacing between the lines, to make sure that the data remains reliable. It is possible the parallel lines could be offset from each other and the crosslines ensure that they are not. 

photo of a computer screen displaying collected sonar readings; many of the lines are parallel sweeps, but there are also diagonal lines that cross over these and help true the data
An entire sheet that shows where data was collected including crosslines (the diagonal lines) and the lines parallel to each other

Once the data is collected, the data from GNSS including GPS and information from other satellites is collated with the ship’s depth data. This involves a lot of additional software that ensures the accuracy and fidelity of the information being collected. 

After everything has been processed, it is sent to NOAA for further integration into the maps that allow ships navigating the waters carrying people and goods across the Great Lakes stay safe. Progress on the Great Lakes project and other hydrographic survey projects can be found at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/855b7102bd0d42d6974c41fa4f8829b9?item=5

Personal Log

It’s fascinating to notice how life aboard the ship mirrors research experiences I’ve had elsewhere. During my undergraduate and graduate work, I spent night shifts at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory running experiments at the synchrotrons. The late hours aboard the ship feel remarkably similar.

Night shifts have a distinct stillness. Instead of the busy daytime chatter and people moving about, the ship settles into a steady rhythm defined by the deep hum of instrumentation and running equipment. Monitors glow with data software, and as the end of the shift approaches, fatigue sets in—making it just a little easier to make a minor mistake (though usually the mistakes are fixable). Sometimes it even feels like the software itself gets tired of being up that late and starts acting up. But through it all, really cool data is collected despite anything else that happens.

Did You Know?

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is sent out after natural disasters like hurricanes, to help ships enter and exit ports. The ship helps make certain that there are not any dangers to ships from the disaster, so that rescue, shipping, and reconstruction after the disaster can proceed. 

a poster about NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson's response after Hurricane Maria, featuring an annotated nautical chart of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson Hurricane Maria Response, 2017. View full PDF version.
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Sabrina Whitaker: A Day in the Life, August 19, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sabrina Whitaker

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

August 18-31, 2026

Mission: Hydrographic Survey, Leg 3

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Ontario

Date: August 19, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 43°22.554’N

Longitude: 76°44.490’W

Winds: W-SW at 5 knots

Temperature:  76° F

Science and Technology Log

A NOAA research vessel is a 24-hour operation. The crew works 12-hour shifts that can start at any part of the day or night and in the rain or shine, pitch black or full daylight.

My day began in the quiet dark at 5:00 a.m. with Ensigns Connor Harrell and Julian Santos as they prepped one of the ship’s small survey boats. Before heading out on the water, thoroughness is everything. They meticulously inspected the engine compartment, checked the water and oil lines, verified the batteries, and—equally crucial for a long shift—packed their sandwich ingredients for the day.

two NOAA Corps officers in navy blue NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson sweatshirts lean over the engine compartment of a small launch vessel
Ensigns Harrell and Santos inspecting the small boat they would later take out
view of a pink-orange sunrise over water; on the horizon, we can make out a distant shoreline
Sunrise over Lake Ontario after inspecting the small boats

By 6:00 a.m., the entire crew gathered for the daily safety meeting to review small boat operations, including resolving past mechanical issues and flagging things to watch. We discussed both small boats on Thomas Jefferson: one had just received a new alternator, while the other developed a persistent clicking sound. The cause? It requires a specialized lubricant that isn’t currently stocked on the Thomas Jefferson. A temporary alternative lubricant is keeping things safe and operational in the meantime, even if the click remains for now.

By 6:20 a.m., it was time to launch. Watching the coordination required to launch both small boats was incredible—it took less than five minutes per boat. I watched my roommate, Hydrographic Survey Tech Haley Kenyon, balance on the moving small boat, calmly releasing heavy lines, relying entirely on her upper body strength and footwork before stepping back inside.

Deploying Boat 2904
view from an upper deck over a railing of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson as a small launch vessel motors away from the larger ship. the water is teal, illuminated by the sunrise.
Small Boat 2904 after being deployed into the water

These small boats serve as essential advance scouts for the Thomas Jefferson, especially when surveying specialized areas like designated dumping grounds. Using side-scan sonar, they map the seabed and detect potential hazards in shallow or tricky waters, ensuring our main vessel can later navigate safely to conduct high-resolution multibeam survey scans without risking the ship’s hull. Deploying the small boats also speeds up data collection significantly—with Thomas Jefferson and two small boats working simultaneously, we can map vast stretches of the lakebed in a fraction of the time.

Of course, science at sea always comes with unexpected variables. Boat 2903—the one with the brand-new alternator—ran into electrical trouble mid-morning and had to be recovered early. While Boat 2904 pressed on with its mission, the crew was understandably frustrated. But on a research ship, equipment problems are simply part of the job, and it was necessary to bring the boat in for further inspection.

Meanwhile, aboard Thomas Jefferson, we were running our own multibeam scans. The multibeam and sidescan systems integrate positional data from a variety of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) including GPS, European Galileo satellites, and other available orbital networks with depth soundings.

Josh sits at a desk looking at an array of at least seven computer monitors
Survey Tech Josh Gautier collecting hydrographic survey data for NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson

To turn sound waves into precise depth measurements, however, you need to know the speed of sound in water, which changes constantly based on temperature and salinity. To capture these variables, a Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) is deployed. Towed behind the ship, the MVP measures salinity and temperature profiles through the water column. The survey techs aboard NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson launch it roughly every hour, or whenever we transit to a new area, allowing us to continuously calibrate our sonar equations against local water conditions.

Ali, wearing a hard hat and life vest, stands near a small torpedo-shaped scientific instrument suspended from a cable
Hydrographic Senior Survey Tech Ali DiTommaso preparing to launch the MVP

At 4:00 p.m., Boat 2904 returned to the ship. We wrapped up the afternoon with our daily debrief—a chance for both the small-boat teams and the shipboard crew to compare notes, troubleshoot the day’s electrical snags, and refine our approach for tomorrow before heading off to dinner.

Personal Log

Living quarters on a working ship must make use of every usable square inch. I share a room with Haley Kenyon, one of our fantastic survey technicians (and one of the people who went out on the small boat from the morning’s launch video).

view into a stateroom, showing two bunked berths, a narrow wardrobe, and a chest of drawers
Stateroom with two berths

Our room is surprisingly spacious with plenty of storage. Haley is a permanent staffer, so she’s aboard Thomas Jefferson long term, while I’m settling in for my two-week adventure. We each have space in the dresser and closets, and I have the bottom bunk. While the porthole offers a fantastic view of the lake, my lower berth keeps the early morning light out of my eyes.

view of gray water through the top half of a porthole
The view from the porthole in my room

Our room connects to the adjacent stateroom via a shared Jack-and-Jill bathroom with a toilet and shower. It’s compact, but totally functional. Both connecting doors lock securely from the inside—though there’s always a slight paranoia about accidentally locking yourself out. Conveniently, our sink and mirror are located right inside our bathroom in our bedroom, making it super easy to brush teeth and wash up even if the bathroom is occupied.

bathroom
The view of our bathroom from the bedroom

Did You Know?

Dessert is a mandatory shipboard requirement.

On NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, official protocol dictates that the crew must be served a dessert at both lunch and dinner. We are extraordinarily lucky because our Chief Steward, Danni Cuff, is a pastry chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America.

Needless to say, the food aboard is great. So far, my scientific duties have been complimented by an impressive rotation of scratch-made cakes, pies, and warm cookies.

a pecan pie, with about one quarter already eaten
One of the pies available to the crew on Thomas Jefferson

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Sabrina Whitaker: Perfectly Imperfect, August 18, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sabrina Whitaker

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

August 18-31, 2026

Mission: Hydrographic Survey, Leg 3

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Ontario

Date: August 18, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 43°51.0527′ N

Longitude: 76°29.1419′ W

Winds: SW at 14 knots

Air Temperature: 74°F

Science and Technology Log

Today was jam-packed with preparation, community, and reflection. I was struck not only by how meticulously everyone prepares for emergencies, but also by the crew’s thoughtful debriefs. They continuously strive for operational perfection, yet never at the expense of appreciating a job well done.

We began the morning with shipboard safety briefings. At sea, addressing a fire quickly is paramount. Everyone has a designated duty and muster station. On land, the standard advice for a building fire is to evacuate immediately—even if it’s small. However, as the Executive Officer (XO) and crew emphasized, if you spot a small fire aboard ship, the best immediate action is to grab an extinguisher and put it out. The reason for this stark difference is simple: on open water, help is miles away. An uncontrolled fire endangers the entire vessel, forcing an abandon-ship scenario that carries far greater risk than tackling a localized flame right away.

There were two new members of the crew besides me. They were assigned to firefighter roles and we went through the process of getting them gear and setting it up so that they could just hop into it if they needed to use it. 

two men stand in an interior room of the ship wearing khaki firefighting jackets and pants and protection for their hands. they smile for a photo. hard hats and life jackets are stored on the wall behind them.
New crewmembers trying on firefighting gear

Should the call to abandon ship ever be given, comprehensive protocols are already in place. Everyone gathers their immersion suits and proceeds to the lifeboats. Each lifeboat holds up to 20 people. With roughly 30 personnel currently aboard the Thomas Jefferson and several lifeboats available, there is more than enough capacity for everyone.

From safety drills, we transitioned to the Leg Operations Brief, led by Operations Officer Mark Meadows. This meeting serves a dual purpose: preparing for the upcoming leg while reflecting on the previous one. Because personnel rotate frequently—some staying for multiple legs, others returning home or arriving from across the country—a structured presentation ensures a seamless transition. The team openly analyzes both the strengths and challenges of the prior leg to set up the incoming crew for success.

Next was a technical discussion on Pulse Per Second (PPS), a concept directly applicable to the data-collection software used on board. Operations Officer Meadows provided a thorough explanation, highlighting why understanding the mechanics behind our equipment (and its software) is crucial for real-time operational adjustments.

NOAA Corps officers, wearing their standard blue uniforms, in conversation in a room filled with computer monitors. OPS Meadows may be the one standing in the middle pointing to screen.
Operations Officer Meadows presenting on the previous leg of the mission

The software generates a pulse display similar to the diagram below:

photo of a visual output display from an older instrument. it features a graph of volts versus time, with a yellow line pulsing vertically up, over, and then back down.
Example of a 1 pulse per second signal generated by a GPS receiver. Photo from Codrey Electronics.

The time from the leading edge of one pulse to the leading edge of the next is exactly 1 second. Meanwhile, the duration between the leading edge and the trailing edge of a single pulse is approximately 1 millisecond (ms). This subtle nuance means it is remarkably easy for data collection to end up off by a millisecond. In many contexts, that tiny margin is negligible; in high-precision hydrography, it matters. Recognizing how the software handles these signals allows the team to correct data post-collection if needed. It reminded me of a favorite lesson from my own high school physics teacher: Always understand how your equipment works so you know how to troubleshoot it when it doesn’t.

After the briefings wrapped up, it was time to get underway! This was the moment my physics-teacher heart sang. It’s rare to see a fundamental physics concept demonstrated so dynamically in real life.

view from an upper deck of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson as the ship carefully pulls away from the dock at the Port of Oswego; we see a concrete road along the shore here, and port buildings, and a smaller boat docked farther down.
The separation from the dock and part of the maneuvering into open water
photo of screens on the bridge of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson displaying electronic nautical charts. we can see the blue water of Lake Ontario out the windows behind the display.
The course Thomas Jefferson plotted after maneuvering away from the pier

The deck crew expertly maneuvered the ship away from the dock, accounting for wind force, current, and the thrust vectors of the ship’s engines. It was a beautiful, real-world ballet of vector addition—one that my students would be relieved they didn’t have to calculate on paper! The crew handled the separation from the dock and navigation around the pier with effortless precision.

four NOAA corps officers in blue uniforms stand around the controls and displays on the bridge of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. another crewmember, not a NOAA Corps Officer, is visible in the background.
Deck crew of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson as they maneuver the ship out from port

Once we reached open water, the crew gathered for what the XO fondly called “Story Time”—a post-maneuver debrief. Once again, they analyzed what went smoothly and what could be refined. They praised the steady speed and smooth handling, while constructively noting that higher communication volume over the radio would make it easier for everyone to follow along. Both praise and critique were taken to heart. Because the Thomas Jefferson will be navigating this same harbor all season, the pursuit of perfection is an ongoing goal—but everyone acknowledged that the crew’s skill today was exceptional.

Personal Log

Trying on the immersion suit was pretty hilarious. I unrolled it in my stateroom and then I had to read the directions. Are you supposed to keep your shoes on? Yes, and luckily, it says so on the instructions on the outside of the packaging. I was able to get into it ok, and then I kind of flopped upstairs so I could get help with getting a picture. I also realized that in a real emergency, I will need some help zipping it up because the zipper is very hard to slide. I’ll have to practice that some more. The worst part though, was taking it off and then rolling it up and putting it back into its bag. I’m not going to lie, that part was a little rough.

Sabrina tries on a bright red and yellow survival suit and gives two thumbs up with the comically large 3-fingered gloves. she stands inside the ship in a desk area.
TAS Sabrina Whitaker tries on a survival suit

Did You Know?

The Great Lakes are technically considered non-tidal.

Ocean tides (true tides) are generated by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. While the Great Lakes do experience a spring tide during a new or full moon, the water level changes by only about 2 inches (5 cm)—compared to 5 to 7.5 feet in places like the Long Island Sound. Because these lake tides are so minor, they are masked by greater local weather forces and categorized as non-tidal.

However, the Great Lakes experience short-term water level fluctuations that closely mimic ocean tides. These are called seiches (pronounced sayshes)—standing waves that oscillate back and forth within an enclosed or semi-enclosed body of water.

Unlike tides driven by gravity, seiches are driven by strong winds and rapid changes in atmospheric pressure that literally push water from one end of the lake to the other. Lake Erie is famous for dramatic seiches, but all the Great Lakes experience them. In fact, in 1954, the extreme winds of Hurricane Hazel piled up so much water near Toronto that it triggered a massive seiche on the opposite shore of Lake Ontario!

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Sabrina Whitaker: A Traveling Scientist, August 9, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sabrina Whitaker

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

August 18 – 31, 2026

Mission: Hydrographic Survey, Leg 3

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Ontario

Date: August 9, 2026

Weather Data from Granger, Indiana

Latitude: 41.7533° N

Longitude: -86.1108° W

Winds: South at 6 mph

Air Temperature: 83 °F

Science and Technology Log

“I spawned a wither!” and, “That is the weirdest world that has ever existed!” my twins yelled to each other from across my parents’ living room while they played Minecraft and I typed this post. I’m Sabrina (Sara) Whitaker, and in about a week, my view will change from the rain soaked prairie of Northern Indiana where my parents live to the waterfront of Lake Ontario where I will begin my journey aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson as I continue the third leg of a hydrographic survey of Lake Ontario. 

Our mission out on the water is a hydrographic survey—essentially mapping what lies beneath the surface. By charting depths, shorelines, and hidden underwater terrain, we will create the accurate maps ships need to navigate safely and keep our coastal waterways protected. Over the next two weeks, I will be learning the details that allow scientists to discover these secrets, and I hope you will join me as we do so.

Personal Log

While my parents live in Indiana and I lived part of my childhood here, I now live on Long Island and teach physics in Farmingdale, New York. The story of how I went from living in Indiana to ending up on Long Island is long and varied, but it closely follows my path toward becoming a physics teacher and leads directly to my newest adventure aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. 

During this summer’s trip to Indiana, I got to visit my undergraduate physics advisor, Dr. Henry Scott, at Indiana University South Bend, where my physics journey continued after high school.

portrait photo of Sabrina and Dr. Scott; in the background, we can see a bridge over a tree-lined river
Sabrina and Dr. Henry Scott on the banks of the St. Joseph River during a visit to Northern Indiana, 2026

Under the mentorship of Dr. Scott and later Dr. Wendy Panero at The Ohio State University, I studied high-pressure mineral physics and conducted experiments at the synchrotrons at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois and Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. That foundation led to an incredible opportunity in Japan, where I worked with scientists at Ehime University’s Geophysical Research Center editing their scientific research papers.

two women pose for a photo in front of a beautiful display of flowers
Sabrina and a friend at the Chrysanthemum Festival in Matsuyama, Japan 2010

When my oldest daughter, husband, and I returned to the United States, I continued editing scientific papers, but I eventually decided to bring that love of science, travel, and global community into the classroom. To make the shift from researcher to educator, I attended Stony Brook University to gain the skills that would help me translate those experiences into inspiration for my students.

This upcoming voyage on Thomas Jefferson combines everything I love: science, travel, and finding fresh ways to engage my students. For two weeks, I’ll get hands-on experience in a branch of science I’ve never practiced, learning straight from NOAA scientists and bringing those lessons back to my classroom. I expect to make mistakes, learn from them, and have a lot of fun along the way. It’s going to be a great challenge, and I can’t wait to begin.

Did You Know?

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson underway; we can see mountains along the shoreline in the distance. from this view, we can see the NOAA logo, the letters N O A A, and the ship number S 222 painted on the hull.
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson (credit: NOAA)

For this assignment, I will be living and working aboard Thomas Jefferson, a 208-foot hydrographic survey vessel.

Capable of traveling nearly 19,200 nautical miles and staying at sea for up to 45 days, the ship functions as a mobile lab. Its primary job is mapping the seafloor and lake beds to collect data for updating nautical charts. 

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Jennifer Widdig: Readying for Life Aboard a Research Vessel, June 2, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jennifer Widdig
Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson
June 17 – June 30, 2026

Mission: Hydrographic Survey 

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie and Lake Ontario

Date: June 2, 2026

A New Adventure Begins

Welcome! My name is Jen, and I call the small town of Minford, Ohio, home. For the past decade, I have had the privilege of teaching a variety of life science courses at Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center in Chillicothe, Ohio. While environmental and animal sciences have been at the heart of my teaching career, I am now preparing for a brand-new chapter that is as exciting as it is unfamiliar.

This upcoming school year, I will be stepping into a role that is not only new to me but also new to our school. My focus will be supporting students through online coursework across multiple subject areas while helping ensure they earn the credentials necessary for graduation. It is a unique opportunity to combine education, technology, and student success in ways I have never experienced before, and I am eager to see where this path leads.

One thing I have learned throughout my career is to embrace opportunities that challenge me to grow. That mindset has taken me far beyond the walls of a classroom. Over the years, I have had the incredible opportunity to travel to Belize, Tanzania, Malaysia, and Peru. These experiences allowed me to collaborate with educators and researchers, participate in meaningful projects, volunteer in communities around the world, and gain perspectives that continue to influence both my personal and professional life.

  • Jen, wearing a safari hat and a backpack, takes a selfie at one end of a narrow wooden bridge suspended over a valley
    Amazon Rainforest, Peru
  • Jen, wearing an orange life jacket, holds up a string of fish hooked by their mouths; she sits on a boat next to other people
    Amazon Rainforest, Peru
  • Jen and two other women sit in chairs in a classroom. Jen is speaking, using her hands to gesture something, while the two women look on.
    Belize Classroom
  • Jen takes a selife from the front of a large canoe containing at least six other adults. they are on a brown river in a tropical setting. across the river, along the shore, are buildings with large wooden balconies extending over the water
    Malaysia
  • Jen, wearing a headlight and a backpack, poses for a photo in front of a wooden walkway extending into a large cave
    Belize
  • four people, facing away from the camera, make their way through dense jungle
    Malaysia
  • Jen helps a child look at a photo on a digital camera. beyond, we can see dusty ground, a bus pulling up behind a large tree, and a village.
    Orphanage in Tanzania, Africa
  • Jen helps two children look at a photo on a digital camera.
    Orphanage in Tanzania, Africa
  • view of a classroom containing furniture but no people
    Belize Classroom
  • a wooden footbridge suspended over a ravine
    Amazon Rainforest, Peru

Now, I am preparing for an entirely different kind of adventure.

For two weeks, I will be living and working aboard a research hydrography vessel on Lakes Erie and Ontario. Unlike my previous international experiences, this opportunity will immerse me in the daily life of a scientific research crew as they collect data, map underwater features, and contribute to our understanding of the Great Lakes. It is a chance to experience science in action, learn from experts in the field, and gain firsthand knowledge of the technology and research that support navigation, environmental monitoring, and resource management.

As someone who has spent years teaching science, I am excited to step into the role of learner once again. There is something humbling and inspiring about leaving your comfort zone and diving into an entirely new environment especially when that environment happens to be a research vessel floating across two of North America’s most significant freshwater ecosystems.

As I prepare to trade lesson plans for lake charts and classrooms for the deck of a research vessel, I am reminded that some of the best learning happens when we step into unfamiliar territory. This blog will serve as a real-time account of that experience. I’ll share the sights, the science, the challenges, and the unexpected moments that come with living aboard a hydrographic survey vessel. From learning the day-to-day operations of the crew to exploring the technology used to map the lake floor. I hope you’ll join me as I navigate life aboard the Thomas Jefferson, explore the science of the Great Lakes, and embrace this adventure one day at a time. 

Mapping the Ocean with NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program 

Before embarking on my adventure, I want to share some information about the agency, program and vessel. 

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, a large white ship, underway. we can see the NOAA logo, the letters N O A A, and the ship's number, S 222, on the hull. the sky is cloudy and gray, and the water is calm and gray.
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson (Credit: NOAA)

NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program is an exciting opportunity that allows educators to step out of their schools and onto research vessels to experience real-world science firsthand. The organization behind this adventure is NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that studies and protects our oceans, atmosphere, weather, climate, and coastal resources. From forecasting hurricanes and tracking marine life to mapping the ocean floor, NOAA’s mission is to better understand our planet and help keep people safe.

Since 1990, more than 850 teachers have participated in NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program, joining scientists aboard research vessels and bringing their experiences back to classrooms across the country. Teachers become part of the science team, helping collect data while sharing photos, blogs, and lessons that connect students to real scientific discoveries.

Teachers selected for the program observe and actively participate. Depending on the mission, they may deploy equipment, record scientific observations, monitor instruments, assist with data collection, and take part in safety drills. Research operations run 24 hours a day, and teachers often work alongside scientists during 12-hour shifts.

For my mission, I will be aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, a hydrographic survey vessel. The 208-foot ship can travel nearly 19,200 nautical miles and remain at sea for up to 45 days. The Thomas Jefferson is essentially a floating science laboratory. Its mission is to map the seafloor, support maritime commerce, improve coastal resilience, and provide data used to update the nation’s nautical charts. These charts help ships navigate safely through coastal waters and busy ports.

Hydrography is the study and measurement of underwater features and navigable waterways. Just as cartographers create maps of mountains and rivers on land, hydrographers map the hidden landscape beneath the water’s surface. Their work helps identify shallow areas, underwater hazards, shipwrecks, and other features important to safe navigation.

To “see” underwater, the Thomas Jefferson uses advanced technology. Side-scan sonar sends sound waves across the seafloor to create detailed images of underwater objects. Multibeam echo sounders measure water depths with incredible precision and create three-dimensional maps of the ocean floor. The ship also carries smaller survey boats that can reach shallow areas inaccessible to the larger vessel.

Hydrographic data has many uses beyond navigation. Scientists use it to study marine habitats, determine whether the seafloor consists of sand, mud, or rock, support dredging and construction projects, and assist with routing underwater cables and pipelines.

As I prepare to step aboard the Thomas Jefferson, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement, curiosity, and gratitude. This experience is so much more than a professional development opportunity. I get a chance to become a student again, learning directly from scientists and crew members who dedicate their lives to exploring and understanding our oceans. I’ll have the opportunity to see hydrography in action, witness cutting-edge technology mapping parts of the seafloor, and experience life aboard a NOAA research vessel firsthand. Most importantly, I’ll be able to bring these experiences back to my students, sharing not only the science but also the adventure, teamwork, and discovery that happen beyond the walls of a classroom.