TAS Jacquelyn Hams at the helm of the NOAA Ship RAINIER
Weather Data
Weather: Partly cloudy
Visibility: 10+ nm
Wind direction: LT
Wind speed: AIRS
Sea wave height: 0 ft.
Swell waves direction: 160
Swell waves height: 1 ft
Seawater T: 9.4 degrees C
Sea level pressure: 1025.9 mb
Temperature Dry bulb: 11.01 degrees C
Temperature Wet bulb: 10.0 degrees C
Science and Technology Log
ENS Sam Greenaway, RAINIER’s Navigation Officer and Kenneth Keys, RAINIER Deck Utilityman and Helmsman, gave me a lesson in navigation. I steered the ship for approximately two hours during which time I completed several turns. I learned that it is very important to steer the ship along the survey lines so that data quality is not distorted. A few of the navigation instruments used on the RAINIER are shown below.
Rudder angle indicatorGyrocompass repeaterFathometerElectronic Chart System display
Personal Log
We are passing many of the smaller islands that make up the Shumagins. The fog has lifted and the RAINIER is approaching Porpoise Harbor, the anchoring spot for the night. The Shumagin Islands are part of the Aleutian Islands Arc system and formed by volcanic activity. The islands provide a scenic backdrop of dramatic peaks and snow capped summits. We anchor at Porpoise Harbor off Nagai Island.
Lesson of the Day: Navigation
Terms of the Day: Rudder, fathometer
Bonus question: What is a fathometer?
Recommended reading: The American Practical Navigator, Bowditch Publication #9
Weather Data
Weather: Partly cloudy
Visibility: 10 nm
Wind direction: 275
Wind speed: 20 knots
Sea Wave height: 2.3 ft.
Swell waves direction: 225
Swell height: 4.5 ft.
Seawater temperature: 10.0 degrees C
Sea level pressure: 1008.9 mb
Temperature dry bulb: 10 degrees C
Temperature wet bulb: 9.4 degrees C
Science and Technology Log
The mission of the day is to conduct a hydrographic survey from the RAINIER around the Semidi and Chirikof Islands. This requires the crew to determine the sound speed of the water column, in order to correct depths measured by the ship’s multibeam sonar for refraction. To determine the sound speed profile, the RAINIER uses a CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth) sensor called a SEACAT.
Bathymetry along survey area
A CTD is an instrument that is deployed from a vessel to detect and record properties of seawater as it is lowered through the water column. The principle measurements are conductivity, temperature, and pressure. From these measurements depth and salinity can be derived. Sound speed is computed from depth, salinity, and water temperature. To take a sound speed cast, the ship or launch is maneuvered into a position such that the line or wire on which the CTD is lowered will not end up tangled in the propeller. The SEACAT is secured to a winch wire or line. The sensor is exposed and the instrument is turned on.
The SEACAT is placed just below the water’s surface for two minutes to allow the sensor to obtain its initial readings. The SEACAT is lowered one meter per second through the water column until it reaches the seafloor. Then it is hoisted back to the surface. As the instrument runs through the water column, the sensor obtains conductivity, temperature, and pressure data.
Distant ship
Once the SEACAT is aboard, it is connected to a computer and the sensor data is downloaded using a special program. A survey technician or junior officer uses the program to analyze the data. If the data looks reasonable, the launch or ship will begin or continue to acquire soundings.
Personal Log
Early this morning, the RAINIER encountered tanker traffic. The Polar Eagle is a tanker ship that was headed toward the RAINIER. Following communications between RAINIER officers on the bridge and Polar Eagle officers, the Polar Eagle passed around the stern of the RAINIER so that RAINIER could stay on course and continue surveying. Around 1600, Aghiuk Island was visible from the bridge. This is a dramatic island with jagged volcanic peaks. At 1815, as the RAINIER survey continued, we had a magnificent view of Mt. Chiginagak (snow covered) on the Alaskan Peninsula.
Aghiuk Island
Lesson of the Day: Surveying
Terms of the Day: Conductivity, cast, hydrography, sounding
Bonus question: Explain how depth is determined given conductivity, temperature and pressure data.
Weather
Clear, Cloudy
Visibility: 6 nm
Wind: Light
Wind speed: AIRS
Sea wave height: 0-1
Swell Waves: Direction 160
Swell height: 2 ft
Seawater T: 9.4 degrees C
Sea level pressure: 997.8 mB
Temperature dry bulb: 10 degrees C
Temperature wet bulb: 10 degrees C
After breakfast, I went to the Pilot House to learn navigation procedures on the RAINIER. ENS Sam Greenaway, RAINIER’s Navigation Officer showed me the Sail Plan for the ship. I was amazed at the details in the Sail Plan – a far cry from the typical recreational boaters sail plan!
ENS Greenaway also explained the procedures that NOAA follows to report the weather. Weather data is recorded by the ship every hour on the bridge and a Big Weather forecast is reported by the ship to the National Weather Service every six hours using GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). The crew uses books and a computer program to report conditions to the National Weather Service. The “Observing Handbook #1 is a reference providing information on the types of weather conditions at sea.
Page from the NWS Observing Handbook. The identification data and meteorological data are in Morse Code.
The RAINIER uses the information in the Observing Handbook to identify and record weather conditions on a form in the “Ship’s Weather Observations” publication, which contains a key to the Morse Code symbols. The RAINIER participates in NOAA’s Volunteer Observing Ships (VOS) program. The VOS program collects weather and oceanographic data from ships at high seas where observations from fixed instruments are limited.
The RAINIER acquires and reports these data in the SEAS (Shipboard Environmental Date Acquisition System) format, for transmission to NOAA’s Weather Service via satellite using the AMVER (Automated Mutual-assistance Vessel Rescue) system. This program is voluntary but all satellite transmission costs anticipated are paid by NOAA and the United States Coast Guard. The data are used by the National Weather service to ensure that high seas forecasts will be timely and accurate as possible. RAINIER reports weather observations by AMVER/SEAS four times per day (0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 GMT). Weather data are encoded in a system called “Ship Synoptic Code FA 13-X which allows very specific information about the conditions observed by the ship to be transmitted as efficiently as possible.
After leaving the Pilot House, I met with Lt. Ben Evans, RAINIER Operating Officer and Acting Executive Officer who explained the mission of this leg of the cruise. The final destination for this leg is Nagai Island which is located approximately in the center of the Shumagin Islands. Along the way, the survey team will conduct a Hydrography survey for the Semedi Islands and Chirikof Islands. Lt. Evans explained that shipping traffic was picking up in the area and accurate charts are not available for the area. The last chart of the area is dated 1914. The mission for this leg is to produce a new chart for the area and find hazards for ships.
In the late afternoon, fire and abandon ship drills were held. These drills are held once a week so that crew and visiting personnel know their reporting stations on the ship for a fire emergency and for a lifeboat if necessary. After the drills, the sun came out. We have been riding some steady swells today and many of us have taken medicine to combat sickness so the sun is a welcome sight.
Lesson of the Day: Weather
Terms of the Day: Leg, swells, bridge, GMT
Bonus questions: What is the significance of wet bulb and dry bulb temperature?
Recommended reading: 1.Coast Pilot #9 by NOAA; 2. Observing Handbook #1 – Marine Surface Weather Observations by National Weather Service; Mariners Weather by William P. Crawford, Norton Nautical Books.
NOAA Teacher at Sea Lisa Kercher Onboard NOAA Ship Fairweather June 11 – 24, 2006
Mission: Hydrographic and Fish Habitat Survey Geographic Area: Alaska Date: June 24, 2006
Ron Walker, our experienced driver, maneuvers our boat through the turns.
Science and Technology Log
The crew is working hard to finish sheet B, which is full of completed polygons, with a few remaining to be worked on. Launch 1018 went to work on three of those areas today. Captain Ron drove us to our destination and ENS Wendy Lewis started the computer system. Two of the areas we were assigned were low water areas that can only be navigated by an experienced cox’n. Good thing Ron was heading up our boat. He is as experienced as they come. To start our work we had to lower our transducer, which enables us to send out sonar beams that bounce off the ocean floor. Those beams bounce back to show the shape of the ocean floor. We deployed our CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) device three different times to get accurate readings on the conditions of the ocean that might affect our data collection. Surprisingly, we completed our assignment early and got to head in for lunch.
Humpback whales breach near the ship
Personal Log
Today was whale day! Captain Ron promised me whales and he delivered even before we heading out this morning. As we stood on the fantail of the ship for the morning meeting, Ron pointed out a humpback breeching off in the distance! Then as we cruised at 8 knots surveying our area, a large humpback put on a great show for us! He surfaced again and again, showing off his immense tail fins. What a large splash he made! I was able to watch him for nearly thirty minutes and captured some great video of the spectacular scene. I had yet to see the grand prize of Alaskan marine life: the Orca, but whale day wasn’t over yet. As we idled off the northwest corner of Andronica Island completing our data for the day, a small pod of orcas came to play between our boat and the coast. I could see the white patch on their side and their characteristic dorsal fin. I was so thrilled! Again, I had an amazing day out in the Alaskan seas. Am I really going to have to leave here?!?
NOAA Teacher at Sea Lisa Kercher Onboard NOAA Ship Fairweather June 11 – 24, 2006
My title for the day was “Gadget Girl.” I assisted the survey team by finding the bearing and horizontal distance to the feature in question.
Mission: Hydrographic and Fish Habitat Survey Geographic Area: Alaska Date: June 23, 2006
Science and Technology Log
This trip is just so amazing! It blows my mind that I keep having more and more exciting days and great adventures! What if work really was like this?!?! These people have great jobs! Boats left at 6:30 this morning, but we were back just in time for lunch. ENS Jon French, survey technicians Stephanie Mills and Grant Froelich, and I boarded the Ambar 2302, which is a small open craft and headed to a location called The Haystacks and Whaleback: two interesting islands. We were doing shoreline survey, which is basically going in to verify or disprove what an airplane has already surveyed from above. This is called LIDAR (laser imaging detection and range). There are areas marked that might have a feature such as a rock that we have to check out and basically make sure it is there! I got to be gadget girl and when we found something, we had to log it by tracking it on a DGPS (differential global positioning system) satellite system, taking a picture, determining the bearing and finding the horizontal distance with a laser. The DGPS system is much more accurate than a standard GPS system. As the other survey techs manned the computer and DGPS system I had to quickly do the other three things. I had all three gadgets hanging from my neck and had to use them to give the techs the precise readings. Talk about nervous!
Jon and Stephanie work on the data from the cabin of the Ambar boat.
Personal Log
Stellar Sea Lions sun and play on Whaleback.
I saw two bald eagles on the top of one of the Haystacks and two more on Whaleback. They were so pretty. I captured some short video of them flying. Video on the boat is a little tricky though as I learned today…too much up and down motion! Then I saw a cute little seal quickly scurry for the water as we scared him from his spot on the rocks and also a sea otter and one big behemoth sea lion! He barked and smiled at us as we passed. Then on Whaleback, which was a sea lions heaven, just a small short island that looked like the top of a whale’s back surfacing out of the water (hence the name), I saw about 40 more sea lions! They were noisy and smelly, but so cool. I watched them move like they were doing the worm. And they fought with each other and barked and splashed in the water. We watched them for 30 minutes as we were finishing our work, taking a break and snacking, before we headed back. On the way back, like I said, the waves were fierce.
One behemoth sea lion smiles at us as we drive by!
After getting lifted off the boat and getting nailed back down and slamming my back and tailbone! I decided to ride the rest out in the cabin. As I made my way back there Grant, my tour guide of spotting whales, pointed out some HUMPBACKS! Yippee. We idled and watched them surface and resurface. They were very, very far away, but looked so huge, so I can’t image what they would have looked like close up! They jumped so high and straight out of the water and splashed so hard back down. There might have been three or four! Soooooo awesome! So that was my day. Again, so amazing! I loved it! I then took a long hot shower when we returned, followed by a yummy lunch and a long nap! This stuff is tiring! Working over the summer and teachers just don’t go together!
Question of the Day
The tides determined our window for collecting shoreline data today. We were given the time window of 5:30 to 10:30 am. This is the time during the day when there is a negative tide. This makes it much easier for boats to see features in the water that would not normally be exposed during a high tide situation. The west coast experiences semidiurnal tides. This is different from the tides on the east coast, which are called diurnal. Can you describe the differences between the two types of tides?
