NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson – Page 2 – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

August 21, 2026August 28, 2026

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.

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*

August 20, 2026August 20, 2026

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!

August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

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 (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.

July 1, 2026July 1, 2026

Jennifer Widdig: Fair Winds and Following Seas, July 1, 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: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Weather Data from Oswego, New York

Latitude: 043^o27’N
Longitude: 076^o30’W
Sky Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility: 9 miles
Wind speed: 2 knots
Wind direction: NE
Temperature: 78^oF
Humidity: 82%

Jen, wearing a Teacher at Sea hat, takes a selfie at the railing of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. In the background, rather than water, we see the Port of Oswego: a dock lined with buildings, leading back to warehouses and storage tanks. — Port of Oswego before heading home

Science and Technology Log

Real-World Career Pathways at Sea

Before stepping aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, I assumed most of the crew would be scientists. While hydrography is certainly at the heart of the mission, I learned that it takes professionals from many different career fields to keep the ship operating safely and efficiently. In fact, many of the jobs on board connect directly to the career pathways offered where I teach, Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center.

screenshot of a website listing 12 course names with accompanying photos. examples of courses include automotive, culinary arts, electrical. — PRCTC’s list of programs (Credit: PRCTC)

screenshot of a website listing 11 course names with accompanying photos. examples of courses include health science, law and public safety, precision welding.

The survey technicians are responsible for collecting and processing hydrographic data using multibeam sonar, side-scan sonar, GPS, and specialized computer software. Their work combines engineering technology, robotics, and cyber security & networking.

The deck department operates cranes and davits, launches and recovers the survey boats, performs maintenance, handles lines during docking, and ensures the safe operation of the vessel. These careers require technical skills, teamwork, problem-solving, and attention to safety which are qualities developed through career and technical education programs. Especially since we train our students in Lean Six Sigma.

a launch vessel, still attached by cables to davit arms, is lowered down the side of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. Crewmembers in hard hats and life vests stand nearby or board the small vessel. — Bosun Alex Bischoff helping 2904 crew aboard

Behind the scenes, the engineering department keeps the ship running 24 hours a day. Engineers maintain the propulsion systems, generators, pumps, electrical systems, and countless pieces of equipment that allow the Thomas Jefferson to complete its mission. Students pursuing careers in diesel technology, industrial maintenance, electrical trades, or advanced manufacturing would recognize many of the same hands-on skills used every day aboard ship.

The bridge is staffed by NOAA Corps officers, who are responsible for safely navigating the ship, supervising survey operations, managing personnel, and making operational decisions. Their careers combine leadership with navigation, meteorology, technology, project management and safety. These officers work very similarly to the students in the Public Safety course at PRCTC.

at least 8 NOAA Corps officers, wearing navy blue uniforms and hats, stand in a line on the bridge of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. They all face out the windows, away from the camera; some look down at screens and instruments on the bridge. — Officers working the bridge on NOAA Ship *Thomas Jefferson*

Even the steward department plays a vital role. Preparing three meals a day for a crew working long hours requires planning, organization, food safety knowledge, inventory management, and culinary skills. The galley keeps morale high and ensures everyone has the energy needed to perform demanding work much like our commercial foods program.

The Thomas Jefferson also relies on electronics, communications, information technology, logistics, administration, and medical support. Every member of the crew contributes specialized skills that allow the ship to operate as a single, coordinated team.

One of the biggest takeaways from this experience is that there isn’t just one pathway to working aboard a ship like the Thomas Jefferson. Whether your interests are welding, diesel technology, engineering, information technology, culinary arts, electronics, leadership, or science, there is a place where those skills can make a difference.

As a teacher at Pickaway-Ross CTC, this experience has given me real-world examples to bring back to my classroom. Now I can point to an entire ship where technical skills, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication are used every single day. Career and technical education doesn’t just prepare students for jobs, it also prepares them for opportunities they may have never imagined, including serving aboard a NOAA hydrographic survey vessel.

Clearing the Way

While the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is best known for charting U.S. waters, the ship can also play a critical role in responding to natural disasters.

In 2017, after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Thomas Jefferson was deployed to help restore safe navigation to the region. Using its multibeam sonar and side-scan sonar systems, the crew surveyed ports and waterways to identify underwater hazards and ensure safe passage for the U.S. Coast Guard, relief vessels, and other emergency responders. Because so many essential supplies reach the islands through these ports, reopening them quickly was vital to the recovery effort.

Over the course of just three weeks, the Thomas Jefferson surveyed 13 areas, including more than 18 ports, helping authorities safely resume maritime traffic.

a nautical chart of the water surrounding Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 13 boxed map insets show enlarged views of survey areas and the color-coded shading of depth measurements. these surveyed areas represent all the major ports. there are three photos also superimposed on the map: one of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson and two of survey launch vessels. — Areas surveyed by NOAA Ship *Thomas Jefferson* after Huricane Maria in 2017 (Credit: NOAA)

One of the ship’s greatest strengths is its ability to operate independently. With a crew of 38, the Thomas Jefferson can remain at sea for several weeks without relying on outside support, making it an ideal platform for extended emergency response missions. Its two survey launches, 2903 and 2904, further enhance its capabilities by allowing crews to survey shallow waters and areas where storm debris may have accumulated.

Learning about the Thomas Jefferson‘s role after Hurricane Maria gave me a broader perspective on hydrography. Before this experience, I mainly associated nautical charting with supporting everyday navigation. Seeing how these same surveying skills and technologies can be used to assess storm damage, clear ports, and help restore critical shipping routes showed me just how important this work is. It is another example of how the crew’s expertise extends far beyond routine charting operations.

Personal Log

Unfortunately, I am on my way home. However, I want to share a few last memories from this experience.

The Crew’s Greatest Challenge

I had started to think the crew aboard the Thomas Jefferson was almost flawless, then game night happened.

Communication on the bridge during unfavorable conditions is exceptional. Navigating video games? Not so much.

four men and two women sit around a table covered in a blue table cloth and lines of condiment bottles. the wall behind them is wallpapered in nautical charts. there is a large tv screen mounted on this wall above their heads. — Crew working on their communication skills during game night

The Commanding Officer remained calm, cool, and collected through two weeks of transiting the Welland Canal, changing weather, and demanding survey operations. Yet during game night, I caught a glimpse of what looked like a silent question in the CO’s eyes: “Is this really my crew?” as everyone demonstrated their less-than-stellar teamwork in a video game. I also learned that it is, in fact, possible to earn negative points.

The evening was filled with unforgettable comments like, “I have steak on the starboard quarter!” followed by, “Fish pasta, aye!” and “Who keeps putting the fire extinguisher on the stove?” Somehow, those made perfect sense in the middle of the chaos. And no game night would be complete without a few “passionate” debates over the official rules of Scrabble.

Crew demonstrating teamwork skills during game night

As entertaining as the games were, my favorite part was seeing this side of the crew. After watching them work with such precision and professionalism every day, it was refreshing to see the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer relax alongside everyone else. For a few hours, ranks took a back seat to friendly competition, laughter, and good-natured teasing. It was a wonderful reminder that the strong teamwork I had witnessed throughout the mission is built not only through hard work, but also through shared moments like these.

at least 8 people in a room at two different tables; the back table is focused on the video game displayed on a large monitor mounted on the wall, and the table in the foreground has a scrabble game. — Crew of NOAA Ship *Thomas Jefferson* at game night

Sharing the Mission

An exciting part of my journey home was getting the chance to share my experience aboard the Thomas Jefferson with people I met along the way. My Uber driver and the hotel front desk attendant were both curious about why I had been on a NOAA ship, which gave me the opportunity to explain the mission of the Thomas Jefferson and the important work the crew does to create accurate nautical charts and ensure safe navigation. They both had said they had lived here all their lives and never saw a boat like that in the port or knew that the lake was not surveyed. After spending time with the crew, I found myself proudly talking about their work and the dedication it takes to accomplish such an important mission.

Mission Complete

I want to extend my sincere thanks to Commanding Officer Kidd and Executive Officer Duffy for welcoming me aboard and giving me the opportunity to be part of this incredible experience.

I also want to thank the entire crew for making me feel at home from day one. Everyone was so welcoming, patient, and willing to answer my endless questions. A special thank you goes to the survey technicians, who took the time to explain everything to me slowly and more than once when needed. Their patience and enthusiasm for their work made it easy to appreciate the science and technology behind every survey.

two women wearing life vests stand near the railing of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson facing out toward the water, opposite the camera. a metal frame containing the conductivity, temperature, and depth probe is partially visible on the deck in front of the woman on the right. a pully on a beam extends into the photo from the right, over the women's heads, and rope hangs on either side of the pully. the sky and water are bright blue. — Chief Scientist Sarah Thompson explaining the Sea-Bird CTD proceedures

I also want to thank my roommate, Junior Officer Bridget Ruiz, for making life aboard so enjoyable. Thank you for your friendship, the great conversations, and for making me feel at home while we were at sea. Sharing this adventure with you made the experience even more memorable.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been assigned to NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. I have a much deeper appreciation for the important work this crew does. More importantly, I am returning home excited to share what I have learned with my students. I hope that through these stories, they will discover careers they may have never considered and see that science can lead to adventures far beyond the classroom.

Fair winds and following seas, Thomas Jefferson. Thank you for an unforgettable journey.

view of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson underway on the lake, sailing away from the camera toward the horizon. it appears to be dusk - there is a little color toward the horizon, and a lot of cloud cover. the water is dark blue and still enough to reflect the image of the ship. — NOAA Ship *Thomas Jefferson* on Lake Ontario

June 29, 2026June 29, 2026

Jennifer Widdig: On the Front Lines of Charting, June 29, 2026

view from an upper deck of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson as a small launch vessel approaches for docking

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: Monday, June 29, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 043^o15’N
Longitude: 077^o22’W
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Visibility: >10miles
Wind Speed: 1 knots
Dry Bulb: 19^oC
Wet Bulb: 18.5^oC

Science and Technology Log

Jen takes a selfie from the railing of a small launch vessel, angled so that we can see NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson in the background at some distance. She wears a green hard hat and orange life vest. The sky is blue with only a few low white clouds, and the water is bright teal with some low waves. — Out on boat 2904 with NOAA Ship *Thomas Jefferson* in the background

One of the highlights of this leg was getting the opportunity to spend a day aboard survey launch 2904. Junior Officer Julian Santos served as our coxswain, while Senior Survey Technician Ali DiTommaso managed the survey equipment. It was a great opportunity to experience how NOAA conducts nearshore hydrographic surveys and to see firsthand the challenges of collecting data in shallow water.

Our mission for the day was to locate the 15-meter depth contour on our assigned survey sheet. Using the multibeam sonar, the display was configured so that anything shallower than 15 meters appeared black. As we “painted” the seafloor with the multibeam, we watched for that black boundary. Once we reached the 15-meter contour, we stopped collecting multibeam data in that area and moved on to find the next section of the contour. Eventually, we connected these sections to create a continuous 15-meter line across the sheet.

photo of a computer screen displaying multibeam data from the small launch vessel. the large portion of the screen shows the depth of the area, color coded; anything shallower than 15 m is shown in dark gray. — Multibeam data from boat 2904

After establishing the contour, we switched to side-scan sonar to survey the area shallower than 15 meters. Because side-scan sonar can cover a much wider swath of the seafloor than the multibeam, our survey lines were spaced farther apart, allowing us to efficiently search for underwater features and potential hazards. During our survey we operated the 75-meter side-scan system in water depths ranging from approximately 7 to 15 meters. We did not have the opportunity to switch to the 50-meter side-scan configuration, which is typically used in even shallower water, from about 4 to 8 meters.

phot of a computer screen displaying sidescan data. the center of the bathymetric map is a vertical black band, representing the track of the small vessel, which cannot collect data directly beneath it with the side-scan sonar. to the left and right of this band is detailed data showing the bumpy surface of the lake bottom. — Getting side-scan data from boat 2904

Working from a small survey launch requires constant multitasking. Since it was the weekend, recreational boat traffic was heavy, requiring extra vigilance while navigating and collecting data. Unlike aboard the ship, the launch crew must solve many equipment issues on their own or troubleshoot with assistance over the phone. At one point, our air conditioning stopped working. Although it certainly made for a warm day, it did not affect the safety of the operation, so we continued surveying.

view of the survey station on board a small vessel. inside the boat's cabin, facing ahead, a desk surface surrounds a single captain's chair. We can see three computer monitors. A survey tech in a purple t-shirt sits facing the computers (away from the camera.) — Ali DiTommaso manning the survey station on boat 2904

Although the surveying stops when the launch returns to the ship, the work is far from over. Every evening, the survey data is processed so it can be evaluated before the next day’s operations. During this process, the survey technicians apply the sound velocity information collected from the Sea-Bird CTD casts. Because sound travels at different speeds depending on the water’s temperature, salinity, and pressure, these measurements are essential for accurately calculating the depth of the seafloor.

The data is also corrected using the vessel’s position, motion, and orientation throughout the survey. Every pitch, roll, heave, and heading change of the launch is accounted for so the seafloor is mapped in its true position rather than being distorted by the boat’s movement. Water level corrections are also applied to account for changes in lake level during the survey.

a zoomed-in view of a nautical chart showing a portion of the southern coastline of Lake Ontario in beige and the water of the lake in blue. There are contour lines at 3 m, 5 m, 7 m drawn extending away from shore. Elsewhere, floating numbers represent depths as deep as 69 m. In a boxed off section of the chart, color coded shading indicates the depths of an entire swath surveyed by NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, with lime green indicating about 15 m deep and darker blue indicating about 23 m deep. — Processed data for the sheet that Boat 2904 has been working on

Once these corrections have been made, the software combines the overlapping survey lines and “smooths” the edges between them to create a continuous, high-quality map of the seafloor. Processing also helps identify any holidays, small gaps where little or no data was collected. If holidays or other data quality issues are found, the area will need to be resurveyed before the sheet can be considered complete.

survey data (shading, color coded by depth) overlaid on a section of a nautical chart of a portion of Lake Ontario. some areas are shaded in rectangles; some are wide diagonal lines showing the survey data collected as the ship transited from one place to another — Total amount of processed data for this leg of NOAA *Thomas Jefferson*

Personal Log

Jen poses for a photo with a man in a navy sweatshirt and a woman wearing a large headset over years. They are inside the cabin of the small launch vessel. — Coxswain Junior Officer Julian Santos, Senior Survey Technician Ali DiTommaso, and myself aboard boat 2904

Going out on a survey launch was one of the highlights of my time aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. I already love being out on the water, so I knew my biggest challenge wouldn’t be seasickness but trying not to be rocked to sleep! The water was calm, with waves less than a foot high, something the crew was very thankful for, even if I secretly wouldn’t have minded a little more excitement.

After boarding 2904, we were lowered over the side of the ship. I followed Senior Survey Technician Ali DiTommaso onto the bow, where she released the locking clamps that connected us to the davit. It was fascinating to watch how smoothly the process worked and to finally experience a launch from the small boat perspective.

Jen sits at the helm of the small launch vessel, her left hand on the wheel, and turns her head to smile for a photo — Taking a turn at the wheel on boat 2904

We spent the day on the water from about 6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The launch may be much smaller than the ship, but it is surprisingly well equipped. We brought water, hot water for tea, breakfast, and snacks, and there was even a small refrigerator stocked with sandwich supplies and a microwave for lunch. It felt like a tiny floating office.

With Junior Officer Julian Santos serving as coxswain and Ali running the survey operations, I jokingly felt like the “passenger princess” for the day. While they handled the work, I had the opportunity to observe every aspect of the survey. Seeing hydrography on a smaller scale helped me better understand the process.

view from a distance of a small launch vessel approaching NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson — Boat 2903 getting ready for recovery by NOAA Ship *Thomas Jefferson*

One of the most impressive moments came at the end of the day during recovery. Watching the coxswain carefully maneuver alongside the TJ looked effortless, but I quickly realized how much coordination is required. The engineers stand by in case there are any issues with the davit or the launch, the Bosun operates the davit, crew handle the lines, and the entire evolution is supervised by the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer. Meanwhile, the bridge monitors everything from the bridge wing to ensure the recovery is completed safely and efficiently.

view from an upper deck of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson of the recovery of a small launch vessel. The small vessel has pulled up alongside the large ship, and two davit arms with cables are lowering toward the boat. seven crewmembers with hard hats stand distributed around the two davits, read to help bring the small boat aboard. we can see other crewmembers watching the operation from higher decks. — Boat 2904 being recovered by the crew of NOAA Ship *Thomas Jefferson*

Before I had the chance to ride on one of the launches, I had watched them return to the ship from the deck. Seeing the boats racing across the water toward the TJ with spray flying behind them reminded me of something straight out of an old James Bond movie. They looked fast, powerful, and just a little dramatic. It felt like they were in slow motion!

Santos and Ali really made the day great, and I was lucky enough to get to tag along with them!

Did You Know?

The Great Lakes span 4,530 miles of coast and account for 21% of the world’s freshwater, with more that 30 million people relying on them for drinking water.
The nautical term “holiday” comes from the 17th century when missing a spot while painting a ship. “Were you on a holiday?” or “Do you need a holiday?”