NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson – Page 3 – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

July 14, 2022July 14, 2022

Laura Grimm: Who are these people in uniform? July 13, 2022

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Laura Grimm

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

July 4 – July 22, 2022

Mission: Hydrographic Survey of Lake Erie

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie

Date: July 13, 2022

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 42ᵒ 10.30’ N

Longitude: 080ᵒ 17.60’ W

Sky Conditions: Few clouds

Visibility: 10+ miles

Wind Speed: 6.1 knots

Wind Direction: 288ᵒ W

Lake Temperature: 22.0 ᵒC

Wave Height: 1 foot

Dry Bulb: 21.1 ᵒC

Wet Bulb: 17.7 ᵒC

Calculated Relative Humidity: 75%

Electronic nautical chart showing many folding-over parallel lines marking the back and forth track of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson off Presque Isle — We are making great progress! This is an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) display of our current hydrographic survey progress. ECDIS is a system used for nautical navigation that serves as an alternative to paper nautical charts. The colorful lines indicate where we have used the Multibeam Echo Sensor (MBES) to measure the depth and physical features of the lake bottom.

Science and Technology Log

Seeing several people aboard in uniform caused me to ask, “Is NOAA part of the military?”

illustration of the NOAA Corps insignia; an eagle stands on a globe with two ship anchors crossed behind it. the eagle has a shield with blue stars and red and white stripes. it reads: NOAA COMMISSIONED CORPS 1917 — *NOAA Commissioned Corps Insignia*

According to the NOAA Corps website, “The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) is one of the nation’s eight uniformed services. NOAA Corps officers are an integral part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and serve with the special trust and confidence of the President.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, known as the NOAA Corps, is one of just two uniformed services with no enlisted or warrant officers. The Corps is made up of engineers, oceanographers, geologists, and meteorologists (among others) who support federal departments in earth science projects. The officers operate NOAA’s ships, fly aircraft, manage research projects, conduct diving operations, and serve in staff positions throughout NOAA. Prior to going out to sea, NOAA Corps officers attend 18 weeks of training at the US Coast Guard Academy’s Officer Candidate School (OCS) in New London, CT. They are not always out to sea; NOAA Corps officers who work on ships rotate between driving the ship for two years and supporting science missions ashore for three years. NOAA Corps officers enable NOAA to fulfill mission requirements, meet changing environmental concerns, take advantage of emerging technologies, and serve as environmental first responders.

The history of the NOAA Corps can be traced back to 1807 when Thomas Jefferson signed a bill establishing the “Survey of the Coast,” which charted the country’s coasts and waterways. Their mission has expanded well beyond coastal mapping. It currently has 320+ officers who oversee more than a dozen ships and nine specialized aircraft, including the Hurricane Hunters.

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, ~ 30% or 10 out of 34 souls aboard are part of the NOAA Corps. The positions of Commanding Officer (CO), Executive Officer (XO), Operations Officer (OPS), and Operations Officer in Training (OPS IT) are all filled with members of the NOAA Corps. The OPS is also called a Field Operations Officer (FOO). (OPS = FOO) The Medical Officer (MO) is often an ensign, however, on TJ, our MO is a professional mariner. All officers are trained to be an Officer of the Deck (OOD); prior to qualification they serve as a Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD). These are the people who drive, or are learning to drive, the ship. Other duties the Junior Officers serve are Navigation Officer (Nav-O), Damage Control Officer (DCO), and the Environmental Compliance Officer (ECO).

TJ serves as a training ground for Ensigns. These are people new to the Corps. Some have attended maritime academies, or been in prior service, such as the U.S. Navy. However, their prior experience must include a baccalaureate degree, and completion of at least 48 semester hours in science, technology, math, or engineering course work pertaining to NOAA’s missions. They become ensigns after graduation from OCS, also known as NOAA’s Basic Officer Training Class (BOTC). You see them all over the ship. They are eager to learn and seem to train or study non-stop! No wonder! There is so much to learn. Ensigns fill many “collateral positions” such as Medical Officer (MO) and Damage Control Officer (DCO). The DCO are on the fire and emergency squad.

ensigns pose casually for a photo on an upper deck of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. they are all wearing the Corps-issued navy pants or shorts, and NOAA Corps t-shirts. — *Currently, there are five NOAA Corps Ensigns on Thomas Jefferson. From left to right are ENS Geiger, ENS Brostowski, ENS Castillo, ENS Foxen, and ENS Meadows.* They are all very fun-loving, dedicated, knowledgeable, and eager to learn.

The maritime academies in the United States are listed below. Click on the links below if you wish to learn more about any of these institutions.

College Degree granting institutions offering maritime degrees and USCG-approved courses include:

Governmental – federal – United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York
Governmental – state – University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska
Governmental – state – California State University Maritime Academy (part of the California State University system), Vallejo, California
Governmental – state – Great Lakes Maritime Academy (a division of Northwestern Michigan College), Traverse City, Michigan
Governmental – state – Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, Maine
Governmental – state – Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Governmental – state – State University of New York Maritime College (part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system), New York City
Governmental – state – Texas A&M Maritime Academy (part of the Texas A&M University System), Galveston, Texas
Governmental – state – San Jacinto College Maritime Technology & Training Center (part of the San Jacinto College system), Houston, Texas
Governmental – state – Seattle Maritime Academy (part of Seattle Central College) (community college), Seattle, Washington
Private – Northeast Maritime Institute (community college), Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Private – FMTC Safety Training Center, Houma, Louisiana

I wish I had known about the NOAA Corps when I was making career decisions. It has the discipline and culture of the armed services, yet it is focused on the sciences. The upper age limit to enter the Corps is 42 years old. I guess at this point, I can only encourage others to consider the NOAA Corps as a career option. 😊

Click here &/or watch the following video for more information about the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.

NOAA Corps Recruiting Video

Personal Log

I have been asked to give a presentation to the crew about the Dalton Local School’s STEAM program. They also would like to know possible lesson ideas I will develop in the future and “takeaways” from the Teacher at Sea experience.

The following is a slide show of my presentation.

A presentation given to the crew about the Dalton Local School’s STEAM program.
Dalton Local Schools serves students in the Kidron and Dalton communities in rural Ohio.
LEGO EV3 Mindstorm robots and 3D printing are the focus of 8th grade.
Students focus on energy and inventions in 7th grade STEAM.
The 6th grade STEAM curriculum focuses on life sciences.
Let’s go to Mars!
STEAM supports the elementary science curricula.
Katherine Johnson was a “calculator” during NASA’s Apollo program.
Thomas Jefferson is a ship dedicated to hydrography.
Enriching the middle school STEAM lessons
Enriching future elementary STEAM lessons
I’ve learned so much during this experience!
I am very grateful for this experience! Thanks, NOAA!

Human Interest Poll (HIP)

Recently, I started a Human-Interest Poll (HIP) where I post a question on the bulletin board outside of the lounge and give the crew 2-3 days to respond. The latest question was, “Where was the coolest place you have gone on a ship?” See their responses below.

outline of the world continents with the letters A-M imposed on the locations listed below. Caption: Where was the coolest place you have gone on a ship? — Results of Human-Interest Poll. It is so HIP!

A = The Channel Islands

B = San Juan Islands

C = Japan

D = Guam

E = Norfolk, VA (Home)

F = Bering Sea in Winter

G = Point Hope, AK

H = Panama Canal

I = Little Diomede Island, AK

J = St. Lawrence Seaway

K = Bali

L = Adak, AK

M = The Equator

N = Ocean View, DE

Stay tuned! The next HIP is, “What were the highest seas you have ever experienced? Where?”

For the little Dawgs . . .

Q: Where is Dewey today? Hint: Athletes like to use this room.

Dewey the beanie monkey hangs from exercise equipment — *Dewey likes to move around, stretch and strengthen his muscles. After All, he is a monkey.*

A: Dewey is in the Exercise Room. This room is in the bottom floor of the ship. I heard that it is one of the best exercise rooms in the NOAA fleet of ships! Even though this is a large ship, you really do not get many “steps” each day. Exercising is part of staying healthy. I try to work out each day. It is an interesting experience to use the treadmill when we are experiencing 4–6-foot waves!

Welcome to the TJ Exercise Room.
Dewey is hanging from a piece of exercise equipment.
Looks like he is going to do some heavy lifting!
Wow, Dewey! Can you lift that heavy barbell?
Is Dewey taking a break?
Nope! He is getting ready to work out on the treadmill.
How about using the exercise bike or the elliptical trainer?
Dewey has many hand weights to choose from!
The flag of the Thomas Jefferson exercise room. See the eagle lifting weights?

Joke of the Day

Q: Where do ghosts go to sail?

A Lake Eerie!

Laura shows off her NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson sweatshirt (and NOAA Teacher at Sea hat) — I am one very happy NOAA Teacher at Sea!

I am enjoying sharing my NOAA Teacher at Sea experience with you. I am looking forward to sharing it with my K-8 STEAM students in the fall!

July 12, 2022July 12, 2022

Laura Grimm: How Do We Communicate?, July 12, 2022

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Laura Grimm

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

July 4 – July 22, 2022

Mission: Hydrographic Survey of Lake Erie

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie

Date: July 12, 2022

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 42ᵒ 11.79’ N

Longitude: 080ᵒ 07.79’ W

Sky Conditions: Few clouds

Visibility: 10+ miles

Wind Speed: 13.9knots

Wind Direction: 245ᵒ E

Lake Temperature: 22.3 ᵒC

Wave Height: 2-4 ft. ***

Dry Bulb: 24.3 ᵒC

Wet Bulb: 22.1 ᵒC

Relative Humidity: 84 %

(*** As the wave height increases, going up or down stairs is a lot like being on a roller coaster. As the ship moves up on a wave, you feel somewhat weightless. As the ship moves down, the G-forces (gravity) make you feel “heavy”. It is fun – until you run into the wall!)

Science and Technology Log

Standing on the bridge, one hears a lot of radio communication between boats and occasionally the Coast Guard. The bridge also communicates frequently with the survey technicians via an intercom.

This made me start to wonder about how the ship communicates in other ways. Let me tell you, there are many other ways for the ship to communicate other than radio. One way is via Morse code. According to Kiddle Encyclopedia, “Morse code is a type of code that is used to send telegraphic information using rhythm. Morse code uses dots and dashes to show the alphabet letters, numbers, punctuation and special characters of a given message. When messages are sent audibly (with sound) by Morse code, dots are short beeps or clicks, and dashes are longer ones.”

Morse code is named after Samuel Morse, who helped invent it. It is not used as much today as it was in the 19th and 20th centuries. Some people still use Morse code to communicate on amateur radio. I have a friend who is an amateur radio operator. He communicates with people all over the world using Morse Code. (He even signs birthday cards in Code!) In Girl Scouts, we were encouraged to learn Morse code. All I remember is the distress code: SOS (. . . – – – . . .).

*International Morse Code chart of letters and numbers*

Another way the ship can communicate is with a signal light. The operator opens and closes louvers in front of the light using the same Morse code dot & dash patterns.

a NOAA Corps Officer closes blinds over a large circular light on a rotating stand — *Morse code is still used on ships using lights.*

Messages can be relayed via the ship’s horn. I discussed in a previous post the ship’s alarm signals that indicate a fire or other emergency, man overboard, or abandon ship. However, the ship also has bells and whistles (different types of horns) that can be used for additional communication; these broadcast a message to a wider audience. There are rules that regulate horn usage in inland and international waters. These signals can communicate navigation or emergency information – and so much more.

Example: two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast = “I intend to overtake you on your starboard side”

If you are in distress, other ways to communicate include lights; a rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing a red light; guns or other explosive devises; flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.); a smoke signal giving off orange-colored smoke; slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to each side; etc.

Flags are also used to communicate with other ships or people ashore. They consist of flags and pennants of varying colors, shapes, and markings. The flags have independent meanings; however, when used together they can spell out words and communicate complex messages. The book International Code of Signals lists literally hundreds of 1-3 flag combinations that mean everything from describing medical conditions of crew members to issues regarding safe maritime travel. The International Code Signal of distress is indicated by the flags that represent the letter “N” followed by the letter “C”.

two flags representing the letters "N" and "C." The "N" flag is checkered with navy and white squares. the "C" flag has five horizontal stripes: navy, white, red, white, navy. — N C = International Code Signal of Distress

a chart of flags (representing letters) and pennants (representing numerals) — *International Flags and Pennants sometimes referred to as the Nautical Alphabet.*

Something else you should know about communicating on a ship (or as an airplane pilot), each letter is represented by a word. A = Alfa, B = Bravo, C = Charlie, D = Delta, etc. To learn more, see the International Flags and Pennants illustration above.

For the little Dawgs . . . (and older)

Q: Where is Dewey today? Hint: People on the ship use these to communicate.

Dewey the beanie monkey is tucked into a cubby storing flags and penants (close-up) — *I’m not sure where you are, Dewey! But it looks like you have found a very colorful playground.*

A: Dewey is in the signal flag storage area.

Dewey the beanie monkey is tucked into a cubby storing flags and penants (wide view) — Signal flag storage area

The radio call sign of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is WTEA (Whiskey Tango Echo Alfa). Do you see the flags flying from our mast in the pictures below? The triangle pennant above the flags that indicate our radio call sign is called our commissioning pennant- indicating a government vessel (NOAA ship) in commission. The triangles on this pennant symbolize a concept in navigation called triangulation. According to Wikipedia, “triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by forming triangles to the point from known points”. It is a perfect pennant for a hydrographic vessel.

on the tower of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, we can see four rectangular flags (corresponding to the call sign, WTEA) and one skinny commissioning pennant — *Radio call signs for NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson WTEA (Whiskey Tango Echo Alfa)*

four rectangular flags (corresponding to the call sign, WTEA) and one skinny commissioning pennant — Radio Call Sign Flags

Students, I challenge you draw out your name using International Flags.

image of five letter flags in a row — These flags spell out, “GRIMM” (Golf, Romeo, India, Mike, Mike)

image of six letter flags in a row — These flags spell out, “DALTON” (Delta, Alfa, Lima, Tango, Oscar, November)

Click on this link and/or watch the video below for more information about International Flags and Pennants.

International Code of Signal Flags

Ship Joke of the Day

How do boats say hello to one another? (They wave!) . . . Or, do they wave their flags?

Personal Log

Speaking of flags, I had very meaningful thing happened today. I was just hanging out in the bridge. I like to see how they navigate and steer the ship. (It is also a great place to bird watch.) Operations Officer, LT Levano, asked me if I would like to have a flag that flew over the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. Whenever a flag becomes a bit tattered or torn, they take it down and replace it with a new one. They usually give the old flag to the Boy Scouts of America for disposal. This time, however, they gave it to me! It brought me to tears. It was a very special moment for me as a Teacher at Sea.

Able Bodied Seaman (AB) Kinnett and ENS Brostowski folded the flag and made the formal presentation.

First, AB Kinnett and ENS Brostowski hold the flag by its corners.
They fold it lengthwise in quarters…
… and then make a series of triangle folds.
Almost finished
ENS Brostowski and AB Kinnett present the folded flag.

Previews of coming attractions:

Tonight, is movie night in the lounge. Word has it that the featured film will be Monty Python and the Holy Grail! Woo Hoo! That is one of my favorites!
Also, the Plan of the Day (POD) for tomorrow states that the crew will be deploying and recovering the Fast Rescue Boat (FRB). Sounds like fun!
I will share the results from the first Human-Interest Poll (HIP) of the crew.

July 10, 2022July 10, 2022

Laura Grimm: Most Valuable Player? July 9, 2022

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Laura Grimm

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

July 4 – July 22, 2022

Mission: Hydrographic Survey of Lake Erie

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie

Date: July 9, 2022

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 42ᵒ 08’3N

Longitude: 080ᵒ 16’2W

Sky Conditions: Few clouds

Wind Speed: 23.0 knots

Wind Direction: 030ᵒ NNE

Lake Temperature: 21.4 ᵒC

Wave Height: 4 -6 feet

Dry Bulb: 19.7 ᵒC

Wet Bulb: 16.6 ᵒC

Calculated Relative Humidity: 74%

Visibility: 10+ miles

screenshot of software displaying a nautical chart and many parallel colored lines — An Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) display of our current hydrographic survey progress. ECDIS is a system used for nautical navigation that serves as an alternative to paper nautical charts. The colorful lines indicate where we have used the Multibeam Echo Sensor (MBES) to measure the depth and physical features of the lake bottom.

Science and Technology Log

As explained in a previous blog, hydrographic survey uses sound energy. NOAA hydrographers use various tools to measure the speed of sound from the time it is sent out to the time it is received as an echo. Sound waves traveling through water of different density cause refraction (or bending) of the energy wave. The density of water is affected by the salinity, temperature, and depth of the water. Scientists need to measure these parameters (things) and then use this knowledge to correct the data depending upon the properties of the water the sound is traveling through. (If you have been following this blog, nothing so far is new.)

Today’s question is how is the temperature and salinity of a column of water measured? Hydrographers use different types of tools to measure the temperature, salinity, and water depth. As a group, these tools are called “sound velocity profilers”. A conductivity, temperature, and depth sensor (CTD) can measure these three things in a column of water and then it calculates the speed of sound in water using a formula called the Chen-Millero equation. (I do not claim at all to understand this equation!)

To make matters more interesting, there are two (I’m sure there are more than two, however, to simplify things, we will assume that there are only two) types of CTDs. One type is sent overboard when the ship is not moving. The other type can be used when the ship is moving. Using a CTD while the ship is moving is a great thing, because to get good data, CTD data must be taken frequently (every 1-4 hours) and this big ship is difficult to stop!

a digital illustration of an award ribbon reading "MVP" — Most Valuable Player Award

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has both types of CTD sensors. They rely heavily on the type that can be used when the ship is moving. In fact, it is so important that we call it our MVP. This does not stand for Most Valuable Player – although it is extremely important! A moving vessel profiler (MVP) can be used to measure the water column when the ship is moving at regular survey speeds (8-10 knots). It kind of looks like a torpedo. The MVP system can be set up to drop to a given depth determined by the hydrographers in charge of the project – not to shallow & not too deep . . . just right.

a moving vessel profiler sitting on deck of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. It looks like a small torpedo standing on end. A life preserver ring is mounted on the rail in the background. — *Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) utilized by NOAA field units.*

close-up of a label on the moving vessel profiler control station, which reads: AML Oceanographic, www.AMLoceanographic.com, +1 250 656 0771, MVP Moving Vessel Profiler — *Here is the information should you want to order a MVP. :o)*

a control panel for the moving vessel profiler: we see buttons, knobs, what looks like a joystick — *After the MVP is put in the water, it can deployed and controlled with a computer in the Plot Room.*

a crane lowers the moving vessel profiler into the water — *The MVP is placed overboard and into the water using a crane.*

It can be controlled remotely with a computer without needing someone to be on deck. Deploying the MVP is called a “cast”. The benefit of deploying a sound speed profiler like the MVP while the ship is moving is significant. It is a real time-saver! Surveyors do not need to stop the ship at regular intervals – this makes their time at sea much more efficient.

Yesterday, I got the opportunity to deploy the MVP. From the acquisition desk in the plot room, one first needs to get permission from the bridge (the “upstairs office” filled with people driving and navigating the ship), to take a “cast”. The conversation over the intercom goes something like this:

Laura: “Bridge, this is Survey.”

Bridge: “Go ahead Survey.”

Laura: “May I please take an MVP cast?”

Bridge: (If the area is clear of small boats and obstructions, they will respond,) “Go ahead Survey.”

Laura: (Once permission is granted, all you need to do is to push the “start” button. A lot of cable attached to the MVP automatically pays out and it drops to a set depth, a few meters above the bottom. Once this started to happen, I informed the Bridge by saying,) “Fish is away.”

Bridge: “Copy.”

Laura: (After reaching the designated depth, the cable drum turns quickly in reverse and hauls the MVP back up to near the surface. I finished by saying,) “Cast complete”.

I was a bit nervous talking to the bridge, but I think I did okay.

screenshot of a computer screen with readout from the moving vessel profiler, including a graph showing the depth over time — This is the computer that controls the MVP. The Hydrographer In Charge (HIC) does this from the acquisition desk in the Plot Room. The blue line above shows the movement of the MVP and its location in the water column. It was sent down to 1.5 meters above the floor of the lake.

Meet the Crew

Sydney peers into a compass mounted on a post on deck — *Sydney Catoire is using a gyro compass to get a visual reading on a prominent antenna near Erie, PA.*

Sydney Catoire is a Lieutenant in the NOAA Corps. (More about the NOAA Corps in a future blog post.) She is an Operations Officer in Training (OPS IT). Sydney comes from a Navy family and grew up on Virginia Beach, VA. Ms. Catoire studied marine biology and mathematics at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Wanting to combine aspects of the Navy as well as work as a scientist led her to apply to the NOAA Corps. She received her Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences (GIS) while working for the Office of Coast Survey.

Why is your work important? The safety of navigation is our primary goal as hydrographers. We use the data to update nautical charts to make it safe to sail. The bathymetric products provided are open source (free for anyone to download and use) and are used for ocean and lake bed mapping. For example, the data can be used for tsunami storm surge modeling, coastal erosion, and habitat mapping. All this data is super critical and is used by a wide variety of scientific organizations and research institutions.

How will your job change once you become an Operations Officer (OPS)? She will still be involved with the day-to-day workings of the hydrographic survey, however, once she becomes an OPS, she will take a leadership role in the survey, assigning sheets (areas to survey), and mentoring sheet managers who develop the line plans (the path that the ship travels to complete the survey). In other words, she will decide on the most efficient methods to “mow the lawn.” She will also help to train junior officers, organize the processing of the data, and work directly with the Office of Coast Survey Hydrographic Division.

What is the thing about your job you like the most? She likes being on the bridge, navigating and driving the ship, as well as looking out the window for marine life – which lately has been very limited since we are sailing on the Great Lakes.

Tell us a few things about yourself outside of being an OPS IT. Sydney and her sister have a dog named, Max. She likes to scuba dive, hike, and hang out with her family and nephews when she is on shore.

Good Luck, Sydney as you strive to become an Operations Officer! For not originally knowing about this career path you sure have excelled and are an example for others with similar interests.

Personal Log

All the people on TJ have been very nice and hospitable. They freely answer my questions and are fun to hang out with during meals. There are three people, however, who are super important to the smooth sailing of TJ. They are the stewards, Ace & Brent and the Chief Steward, Miss Parker. I never imagined that the food would be so varied and tasty! A well-fed crew = a happy crew!

Menu for Monday 5 July 2022: Breakfast: Egg to Order, etc. Lunch: Chicken Cordon Blue, Soft Shell Crab Portabella Mushroom, etc. Dinner: Prime Rib w / Au Jus, Baked salmon w/ brown sugar glaze, fried tofu, etc. — *Each day the menu is posted outside of the galley. Just look at Tuesday’s offerings!*

plate of food and place settings — *Roasted duck, grilled vegetables, and wild rice. Just a normal meal on the TJ.*

*Beautifully decorated three-layer cake with strawberry icing and filling.*

three stewards stand in the galley behind a serving line. Ms. Parker and Ace wear aprons. — *The Heroes of the Galley (from left to right): Brent, Miss Parker, and Ace.*

For the little Dawgs . . .

Q: Where is Dewey today? Hint: it is the back of the ship.

Dewey the beanie monkey perches on a rail of some sort, with a pole behind him, and the wake of the ship visible in the water — *Be careful, Dewey! We don’t want you to fall into the water!*

A: Dewey is sitting on the stern of the ship. The propellers are under the stern.

Dewey the beanie monkey sits on the rail on the ship's stern, and the wake of the ship is visible behind — *Dewey is sitting on the stern of the ship. “Stern” rhymes with “learn”. We are learning the different parts of the ship.*

Well, that’s all for today. Spending time aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has been a terrific learning experience. I am so thankful for the opportunity!

July 8, 2022

Laura Grimm: Heavy Lifting, July 8, 2022

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Laura Grimm

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

July 4 – July 22, 2022

Mission: Hydrographic Survey of Lake Erie

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie

Date: July 8, 2022

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 42ᵒ 11’3 N

Longitude: 080ᵒ 13’0 W

Sky Conditions: Few clouds

Wind Speed: 5 knots

Wind Direction: 208ᵒ SW

Lake Temperature: 21.8 ᵒC

Wave Height: <1 foot

Dry Bulb: 21.4 ᵒC

Wet Bulb: 20.3 ᵒC

Calculated Relative Humidity: 91%

Visibility: 10+ miles

view of a computer screen showing a nautical chart with depth readings and colored lines where the ship has surveyed — An **Electronic Chart Display and Information System** (ECDIS) display of our current hydrographic survey progress. ECDIS is a system used for nautical navigation that serves as an alternative to paper nautical charts. The colorful lines indicate where we have used the Multibeam Echo Sensor (MBES) to measure the depth and physical features of the lake bottom.

Science and Technology Log

The Great Lakes system including all five lakes plus the St. Lawrence Seaway is one of the largest concentrations of freshwater on Earth. It carries billions of dollars of cargo to and from the Atlantic, has about 10,000 miles of coastline, hosts a $7 billion fishing industry, and heavily influences the climate in the region.

Vessels that sail on the Great Lakes are getting bigger and are super important to the US economy. For these ships to travel safely they need a certain depth of water. If the water is too shallow, they run aground and essentially get stuck. “Draft” is the vertical height between the waterline and the lowest point of the hull. It is how deep the hull can go, allowing the boat to float freely and without touching the bottom of the body of water such as the sea, ocean, or lake. NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has a draft of 14 feet + the equipment secured to the hull making the working draft 15.5 feet.

Those individuals navigating the ship use a huge variety of tools. One of them is a navigation map, also known as a nautical chart, on which has listed the water depth* at various locations. Just like you and your family might use a map to get from Cleveland to Boston, those navigating a ship use a chart to cross lakes and oceans.

(* Most of these numbers were made using ancient technology called “lead lines”. They are old data, but apparently, they are pretty accurate considering the technology hydrographers had at the time.)

The above is part of a nautical map of Presque Isle off of Erie, PA. Do you see the small numbers in the blue portion of this map? These are water depth measurements. It is very important to look at the unit of measure. It could be in feet, meters, or fathoms. A fathom is equal to one 2 yards or 6 feet. The above unit of measure is meters.

*A road map of Presque Isle. How are “on land” maps similar to “on water” maps? How are they different? What symbols would they have in common? What symbols would be unique?*

A great amount of data on nautical charts of the Great Lakes is more than 50 years old, and only about 5 to 15 percent of the Great Lakes are mapped to modern standards.

One of NOAA’s missions for 2022 is to conduct several hydrographic survey missions on the Great Lakes.

“Missions” are broken down into field survey “projects”, which in 2022 include surveying Western Lake Michigan, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Western Lake Huron, the Detroit River (Michigan) between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, and the Cleveland area as well as the vicinity of South Bass Island and Presque Isle (Pennsylvania).

In collaboration between the Office of Coast Survey and the ship’s command, projects are broken down into “Sheets”. Survey ships will work at completing one sheet at a time. The number of sheets per project various greatly depending on a myriad of factors.

a geographic map of Lake Erie with blue outlines marking different "sheets" in the project — *Sheets around the Cleveland area surrounded by blue.* There are 13 sheets in this project.

Sheets are further divided into “polygons”. Polygons are a more manageable “chunk” to work on . . . one polygon at a time.

So overall, the order of magnitude and size in each assignment from largest to smallest is thus: Mission, Project, Sheet, and finally Polygon.

When working on polygons, the survey is done either by the ship itself or by smaller boats called “Launches”. Launches work on the part of the polygon that is in shallow water &/or close to shore. NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has two launches, 2903 & 2904. These smaller boats are stowed onboard the main ship. The launch is a smaller vessel than the TJ, only 28 feet in length, with a 10-foot beam (width) and draft of 4 feet 8 inches. They are equipped with survey equipment similar to TJ.

a small boat in the water. we can see two crewmembers on the aft deck. — *TJ launch #2904*

two small boats in the water; the rail of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson and a few crewmembers on board are just visible in the lower right corner — Both launches come alongside the TJ.

So, today’s question is how do they get these smaller boats (launches) on and off the main ship? This is accomplished by an awesome hydraulic piece of machinery called a davit. Vestdavit, a company from Norway, makes the davits that are on the TJ. Taking the launches off or putting them back on the TJ is a team effort! It can be dangerous so everyone helping wears personal floatation devices (PFDs) and hardhats.

Launch secured in the davit.

above view of small boat in "cradle" on NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson — The launch is sitting in its cradle. It is snug as a bug in a rug!

Notice that the launch in the previous pictures is secured to the davit by bow ropes, cables & hooks, ratchetted straps, and bumpers. Ships move around a lot. We don’t want the launches swinging and slamming into the davit. As mentioned previously, this piece of machinery uses hydraulics. Unlike the hydraulics we use in STEAM class, these use oil as the hydraulic fluid and not water. The hydraulic fluid used by NOAA is very environmentally friendly.

The following videos and pictures will show how the davit is used to capture and raise the launch from the water and back onto the TJ:

Step #1 – Get the launch close to the side of the ship where it will be stored. (2903 is stored on the starboard side (right side when looking toward the bow) of the ship. 2904 is stored on the port side (left side when looking toward the bow) of the ship.)

Coming along the side of Thomas Jefferson.

Step #2 – Get the lines ready and attach the painter line to the bow. The painter line is the white line in the video below.

Securing the painter line.

Step #3 – Attach the davit clip to the hook on the bow.

Attaching the davit clip.

Step #4 – Engaging the hydraulics will start to raise the boat out of the water. Notice that the large orange bumpers on the side of the launch help to protect the boat from bumping into the side of TJ. At this point, it is safe for the crew to disembark (get off) the launch.

Engaging the hydraulics.

Step #5 – The davit lifts the launch and places it in its hold or cradle.

Final lift of the davit.

Step #6 – Finally, secure the launch with a ratchetted straps or webs.

Securing the launch vessel with a strap pulled up the port side…
…across the bow…
… and over the starboard side, then ratchetted tight.

Unfortunately, they are having some difficulty with the davits aboard Thomas Jefferson. No launches will be deployed until they can get the issue resolved. In the meantime, data will continue to be taken using the Mulitbeam Echo Sounder (MBES) and other technology on Thomas Jefferson. I read recently that the CO (Commanding Officer) always puts personal safety before data acquisition. He and the crew really mean it!

Personal Log

Yesterday morning, I enjoyed watching the crew deploy both launches to do surveys close to the shore. It was choppy with 3-5 ft waves. I have not felt seasick on TJ, but choppy seas on a small boat would have made me revisit my breakfast. The launches came back in earlier than expected due to the rough water. It was exciting to see how efficient the crew was at deploying and recovering the launches . . . like a well-greased machine.

Operations Officer (OPS), Michelle, asked me to work with Operations Officer in Training (OPS IT), Sydney in the Plot Room. She will teach me all I need to learn about hydrographic data acquisition. (More on that in a later blog). There is so much to learn! If you are interested in math &/or science, you might want to look for a job at NOAA!

view of a computer screen displaying the output of hydrographic software; there is a nautical map on the left and additional panels to the right — *Image created by Hypack, the hydrographic software used by TJ.*

My time in the Plot Room was cut short because we had a fire drill followed immediately by an abandon ship drill. At school we have a variety of drills (fire, wind, lock down). Sometimes we take these drills for granted. We get lazy. Let me tell you! I was not prepared for the ship drills! Each drill is announced by the ship’s whistle. This is great and heard everywhere – however, it is worthless of you have not done your homework and learned what the whistles mean! I am guilty of not doing my homework! I was running around like a crazy person! Suddenly, I could not find my way around the ship! What was the drill? What did the whistles mean? What should I bring? Where should I go?

a muppet, screaming. — I think this is what I must have looked like!

From now on, I WILL do my homework. I will be prepared, and I will no longer take drills at school for granted. They are important!

Alarm	Signal	Where to report	What to bring
Fire or Other Emergency	Continuous sounding of general alarm or ship’s whistle	Main deck, port side, outside of the damage control pathway	Nothing, egress ASAP
Abandon Ship	6 short blasts of ship’s whistle followed by one prolonged blast	02 deck, starboard side, by raft #3	Must wear PFD (life preserver), hat, long sleeves and carry survival suit (affectionately known as the Gumby Suit)
Man Overboard	3 prolonged blasts of ship’s whistle	02 deck, starboard side, watch aft	Nothing, egress ASAP

I made a table to help me organize my “homework”!

For the little Dawgs . . .

Q: Where is Dewey today? Hint: it is usually underwater and helps move the boat.

Dewey the beanie monkey perched on the propeller of one of the small boats (out of the water, stored on board) — This part of the boat is usually under water.

A: Dewey is sitting on the propeller, also known as the prop. The motor of the boat spins the prop which makes the boat go forward, or if it is spun in the opposite direction, the boat goes backward.

the propeller of the small boat or launch. since the vessel is out of the water, stored in its cradle, we can see Lake Erie and a dock in the background — This is the prop of the small boat or launch. The propeller on the Thomas Jefferson is much larger! Behind the propeller is the rudder. This can be moved side to side allowing the boat captain to steer in one direction or the other.

One of the TJ’s engineers shared this picture of the Thomas Jefferson’s propeller. It was taken in the past when the ship was in “dry dock” undergoing repairs.

an engineer, wearing a hard hat, stands underneath the hull and the propeller of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson when it is in dry dock, i.e., completely out of the water — *Just look at the size of the propeller and rudder of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson compared to the size of a man!*

Well, that is all for now. I am assigned to be in the Plot Room again tomorrow morning from 6:00-8:00 am (0600-0800)*. I hope things go a bit more smoothly tomorrow. These wonderful scientists have so much knowledge + they do not mind me asking many, many questions = a great learning experience! Thank you, NOAA!

(*The ship runs on a 24 hour clock. Examples: 9:00 am = 0900. 3:00 pm = 1500. It’s easy once you get used to it. Also, I found out this morning that if you are scheduled for 0600, you really are supposed to show up at 0530. Oops! I try to keep a growth mindset in all I do!)

July 7, 2022July 7, 2022

Laura Grimm: Echoes and Flares, July 7, 2022

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Laura Grimm

Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

July 4 – July 22, 2022

Mission: Hydrographic Survey of Lake Erie

Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie

Date: July 7, 2022

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 42ᵒ 08.7

Longitude: 080ᵒ 16.9

Sky Conditions: few clouds

Wind Speed: 14.9 knots

Wind Direction: 040 NE

Lake Temperature: 22 ᵒC

Wave Height: 1 ft.

Dry Bulb: 20.6 ᵒC

Wet Bulb: 18.6 ᵒC

Relative Humidity: 83% (calculated using the following table)

Relative Humidity Conversion Table. Rows: Dry-bulb temperature, ranging from 10 degrees C to 30 degrees C in increments of 1 degree. Columns: Dry-bulb temperature minus wet-bulb temperature, ranging from 1 to 10 degrees C in increments of 1 degree. — Once you know the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures, you can use the conversion table above to calculate the relative humidity.

Science and Technology Log

The mission of a NOAA hydrographic survey is to make bathymetric maps of the floors of bodies of water. Bathymetry is the study of the “beds” or “floors” of water bodies, including the ocean, rivers, streams, and lakes. So, what is the difference between bathymetry and topography? Topographic maps show elevation of landforms above sea level; bathymetric maps show depths of landforms below sea level.

NOAA ships are equipped with lots of different types of equipment to make such maps. One of these is the Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES). It is used to survey large swaths or bands of the floor of oceans and lakes. This type of technology collects a tremendous amount of bathymetric data.

Multibeam Echo Sounders (MBES) gather information about how deep a body of water is, the physical features of the seafloor, and how close to the surface items like wrecks and obstructions are that might make it dangerous to maritime travel. Obstructions are things sticking up from the floor.

Multibeam Echo Sounders send out sound energy and analyze the return signal (echo) that bounces off the lakebed, seafloor, or other objects. Multibeam sonars emit (send out) sound waves from directly beneath a ship’s hull to produce fan-shaped coverage of the seafloor. These systems measure and record the time for the sound energy to travel from the sonar to the seafloor (or object) and back to the receiver. The longer it takes, the deeper the water. Multibeam sonars produce a “swath” of soundings (i.e., depths) to ensure full coverage of an area. This is sometimes referred to as “mowing the lawn”. Scientists want to be sure that they don’t miss anything!

underwater, a diver checks out a multibeam sonar apparatus attached to the hull of a ship — *Multibeam sonars are secured to the bottom or the hull of the vessel to collect data.*

an illustration of a multibeam sonar swath spreading out from the base of a NOAA ship (above the water), revealing the modeled bathymetry of the seafloor (below the water) — MBES Data showing seafloor topography

Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) showing bathymetric data, also known as, seafloor topography. Bathymetry is the study of the “beds” or “floors” of water bodies, including the ocean, rivers, streams, and lakes. Topography is a detailed description or representation on a map of the natural and artificial features of an area.

modeled bathymetry shows a small boat resting on the seafloor. — *Small wreck found using multibeam sonar.*

When looking at a hydrographic image, keep in mind that blue = deep water, red = shallow water.

view of a small boat mounted on NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson; the hull is visible — *This is one of the launches (small boats) that is used to collect hydrographic data close to shore. A Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) is attached to the hull (bottom) of the boat.*

close-up of the multibeam echosounder mounted on the hull of the small boat — *The black and red piece of technology is the MSEB*

close-up of the multibeam echosounder mounted on the hull of the small boat; it looks like a black box with red panels — *A close up of the MBES* that is secured to the hull of the launch.

The red rectangle in the foreground is the transmitter. It sends out the sound energy. The other red rectangle is the receiver. It “hears” or receives the echo of the sound. This information is then sent to a computer that analyzes how long the echo took and then calculates the depth.

The small silver latch-looking piece of equipment is the sound speed indicator. It calculates the actual speed of sound in the conditions under which the measurement it taken. A “ping” is sent out from one end and is received at the other end. The speed of sound is then calculated.

I always thought that the speed of sound was a constant number. I guess not! So why is calculating the speed of sound so important? The speed of sound in water is affected by the temperature and salinity of the water. The warmer the water, the faster sound energy travels. Once a molecule starts to vibrate, it passes this energy on to the next molecule, and to the next, and so forth. Water molecules in warmer water are moving quicker so sound energy transmits faster; cold water is more dense and therefore the sound transmits slower. The colder the water, the slower sound energy travels.

Salinity also affects the speed of sound. Salinity is the measure of dissolved salts in water. This accounts for all salts, not just sodium chloride (table salt). The salinity of fresh water is very low compared to that of the salt water in the oceans. Water that has a lot of salts dissolved within will transfer sound energy more quickly. Electroconductivity is a measurement of salinity. (Students – you may remember that we use an electroconductivity probe to help us understand how much fertilizer is in the water used to grow plants hydroponically in the greenhouse.) Knowing the speed of sound in water helps hydrographers interpret the data from the MBES more accurately.

Something to think about . . .

How is a Multibeam Echo Sounder like and unlike echolocation that is used by bats?

For the little Dawgs . . .

Q: Where is Dewey today? Here is a hint. It is also called the “front” of the ship.

Dewey, a beanie monkey, sits on a white surface with water in the background — Where is Dewey today? Here is a hint. It is also called the “front” of the ship.

A: Dewey is on the bow of the ship. “Bow” rhymes with “cow”.

a view of the ship's bow with the beanie monkey perched on a rail — Do you see Dewey? He is sitting on the bow of the ship.

Dewey is sitting on the bow by the Jackstaff (flagpole). The Jackstaff is a flagpole that flies a maritime flag called the Union Jack of the United States whenever it is at anchor or in port.

50 white stars on a blue background — Union Jack of the United States. Just the stars and not the stripes.

Laura on the bow, with Dewey the beanie monkey perched on her shoulder. Laura is wearing a Teacher at Sea hat. we can sea the anchor behind her. — *Dewey and I are enjoying the fresh air on the bow.*

Personal Log

We had fun last evening. Patrick, a Seaman Surveyor, told us that he had several flares that had expired. Instead of throwing them away, he decided to have us light them. What a great thing to do around the 4^th of July!

Patrick with flare
Prepping a flare
Here it goes!
Happy Fourth of July!
More flares
Flare
More flares
Flare guns
Readying the flare gun
Fire!

Because we were surveying near Lake Erie, we had the opportunity to watch the 4th of July fireworks over Cleveland and surrounding communities. Such a lovely way to spend Independence Day.

Around 2300 (11:00 p.m.) we started to transit (move) toward Erie, PA. It’s been a good day. I look forward to waking up in the waters near Presque Isle.