NOAA Teacher at Sea
Laurie Degenhart
Onboard NOAA Ship Delaware II July 14-25, 2008
Mission: Clam Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Date: July 23, 2008
Weather Data from the Bridge
Winds at 170° at 23 knots
Sea temperature: 18.9° C
Air temp 22.6° C
Swells: 1
Atmosphere: Clear
Laurie and some fellow crewmembers are covered with clay and mud after climbing in the dredge
Science and Technology Log
The last two days have been less hectic. The scientists have had to make several repairs. The sensors on the dredge were having problems recording data. Sean Lucey, Chris Pickett, and TK Arbusto, as well as other scientists have spent several hours replacing sensors and making sure that the sensors were logging accurate data. In order for the survey to be reliable the scientists at sea and in the lab decided that the ship needed to return to previously tested sites to insure that the sampling techniques had not changed with the changes in the sensor.
We have sampled both Quahogs and Surf Clams today. It seems that some locations are dominated by the Quahogs, while others are mainly Surf Clams. The weather has been hot and humid. So far in the trip, the Delaware II has been able to avoid the storms farther to the south. Tonight however, the winds are starting to pick up. We may see rain! Today I climbed up in the dredge compartment when it was full of clay. Even though I knew that the dredge was very safe, I still worried that I might fall into the ocean. The clay was very dense with rocks. Sean Lucey, chief scientist, used a high pressure hose to loosen the majority of the mud, but it was still a big slippery muddy job. John, the Chief Bosun, told me that a full load of mud weighs almost 9000 pounds! There were very few clams in the load.
Personal Log
This shift has been very busy. The tows have been pretty much back to back. All the people on my shift have formed a great team. Though the work is hard we seem to be able to make it fun….
I continue to be impressed with the NOAA officers and scientists. The scientists have to have knowledge of oceanography, marine biology and statistics in order to execute accurate sampling. Another area of expertise is in trouble shooting all the scientific equipment… after all there is no running to the hardware store for spare parts. Today when the sensors broke the scientists, mechanical engineers, and the bosun had to work together to correct the problem.
Both the NOAA officers and the scientists have to be able to cope with volunteers (me included) that have no knowledge of life at sea. Each new crewmember has learn to fit in…I’m sure that this tries the patience of the seasoned crew. Being aware of all the ins and outs of life at sea is quite a learning process. For example, I went to the bridge after dark… it seemed to be pitch black…. actually the Executive Officer was “on watch” having the lights out made it easier for him to see both the ocean and the electronic equipment that he had to use in order to safely captain the ship.
One of my goals for the trip is to put together a collection of photographs that depicts all the aspects of life aboard the Delaware II. So far I have over 300 photographs. The crew seems quite pleased…many members ask if I can take more pictures.
During this voyage I have learned a great deal about how a ship runs. I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to work aboard the Delaware. I will create a DVD with the images and video clips that I have gathered. I want to share my experience with students, teachers, and student teachers. NOAA offers great resources for educators and a vast selection of careers for those who wish to live a life that is rewarding and exciting.
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Laurie Degenhart
Onboard NOAA Ship Delaware II July 14-25, 2008
Mission: Clam Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Date: July 20, 2008
Weather Data from the Bridge
Winds at 200° at 23 knots
Sea temperature: 24.2° C
Air temp 24.6° C
Swells: 0
Atmosphere: Clear
Science and Technology Log
Scientists and volunteers sort dredge materials.
We are now into day 7 of our clam survey. Everyone on the ship pulls together as a team to make each tow a success. Each location for a dredge site is called a station. The NOAA crew in charge of the ship must not only be at exactly the correct longitude and latitude, but the depth of the water, the speed of the tow, and the condition of the sea (waves and swells) must also be considered. There are three separate places on the ship where these decisions are made. The bridge controls the location of the ship and notes the conditions of the sea. The chief bosun controls the dredge towing. He manages the cables, depth, and length of the tow. The scientist in the lab choose the exact location of the tow and the depth. The scientists use sensors attached to the dredge to log data about the tow. The bosun reels the cable back to the ship and onto the platform. After the tow has been made the deck hands secure the dredge compartment where the catch is.
The scientific crew then measures and counts the clams. A scientist from the FDA, Stacey Etheridge, has the science crew shuck a certain number of clams. She then homogenizes them in a food processor to take back to the laboratory to test for possible toxins. The NOAA scientists collect data on the different types of clams as well as the size and weight. They are also trying to determine the age of the clam given the rings on the shell. In addition to the scientist on the Delaware II, there is an entire NOAA crew. There are engineers, ship’s officers, and fishermen. Everyone has specific assignments. The NOAA officers are at sea approximately 244 days a year. The NOAA careers website here.
Personal Log
The scientists must have many skills in order to keep the study going. Not only do they have to know about the clams, but also how to fix problems with the computer program and its sensors, as well as the mechanical operation of the dredge equipment.
The weather at sea has been very hot and humid. The hours are long. We do approximately 10 tows on a twelve-hour shift. Think about this… each tow gathers around 4 thousand pounds of material off the ocean floor. That makes 40,000 pounds. There are 7 people on our shift. That means each of us sorts and moves around 5700 pounds in a shift…. that’s as much as a small car! I guess I can have dessert with lunch today. The work is enjoyable.
Tina and I have shucked over 500 clams. We ROCK, or should I say CLAM, at shelling Quahogs. The Captain told me that we may feel the effects of tropical storm, Cristobol. I sure hope I don’t get seasick. I learned a new skill…swabbing the deck. It is amazing the range of tasks each crewmember has to have to keep the ship running smoothly.
Our Chief Scientist, Sean Lucey, oversees all of the roles of the scientists and volunteers. It’s a big job and he sets the tone for the rest of us. Everyone is positive and willing to do whatever is needed. Jakub, the Watch Chief, oversees the general operation of sorting and measuring the clams. Both Sean and Jakub are great at teaching me the ropes so that I can do my best. One time as I was on my way to my “station” Sean remarked, “I know you’ll be ready.” I thought that was great, sometimes I get anxious about doing the exact right thing at the right time.
I am starting to think about the lesson plans that I am going to write. I want to make a simulation of a clam survey for elementary students using Oreo Cookies to gather data. Sean is going to give me data from the trip to use in my lesson plans. One of my goals for my presentations is to go to various Vocational Classes to talk about all the facets of NOAA as a career path. I also want to develop a presentation about the roles of a scientist, showing the different aspects of the skills that they have.
Once again the meals have been great. I was told that the Stewards, John and Walter, have a reputation for providing the best food of all the NOAA ships. Sure seems right to me! We have had great meals. One night we had Sea Bass, another night we had lamb chops. There is always an abundance of vegetables and fruit. Then there is dessert… apple pie!
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Laurie Degenhart
Onboard NOAA Ship Delaware II July 14-25, 2008
Mission: Clam Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Date: July 15, 2008
Weather Data from the Bridge
Winds at 200° at 7 knots
Sea temperature: 20.7° C
Air temp 24.4° C
Swells: 160 4’ 12 sec.
Atmosphere: Clear
Science and Technology Log (Monday, July 14 – Thursday, July 17)
NOAA Teacher at Sea, Laurie Degenhart, gets ready to set sail on the DELAWARE II.
We set sail midday on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. Monday was spent with repairs. We heard a presentation by Dr.Larry Jacobson, the head of the Clam Survey Project. He explained that there was a general shift in the populations of Surf Clams and Ocean Quahogs.
This study is collecting data for his team to use in determining the changes and possible causes of the change. NOAA and the clam fishing industry enjoy a good relationship, working handin-hand to protect the clam population and promote clam fishing. We were taken to the NOAA storeroom and outfitted with our “foul weather gear.” We wear the gear on board to sort and shuck clams. We each were issued boots, yellow bib overalls, and an orange rain slicker….I look quite dashing.
Laurie dons a survival suit during a ship safety briefing.
Chief scientist, Sean Lucey, gave us a general description of the work that we would be doing. Sean stressed how important accuracy is in all the facets of the Clam Survey. There are several assignments. Each person is assigned a shift. My shift is from Noon until midnight. That’s 12 hours! We are not to return to our room until our shift is over, because the other women I share the room are on the opposite shift and will be sleeping. I am on a team with Jakub Kircun, as the Watch Chief. He is very patient and kind, even when I make a mistake. There are seven people on our team: four NOAA scientists, one graduate student who is studying plankton, one volunteer, and me, the Teacher at Sea.
General Description of a Clam Dredge
The back of the Delaware II has a large metal dredge (it looks like a giant square shifter-See photo.) The cage is lowered to the sea floor at pre-determined random locations and dragged by a special cable called a hauser for exactly 5 minutes. Then the dredge is hauled back to the boat and its contents are dumped on a platform. We all sort through the dredged material sorting out clams and other sea life, throwing the rest back out to sea. The clams are measured, weighed, and some meat specimens are taken for examination. Computers record a vast array of information for the scientists. Sean Lucey (Chief Scientist) is always making decisions where we go and provides the lab and other scientists information about the catch. The team does around 10 or so tows in a twelve hour shift.
First Assignment
I was assigned by, Jakub Kircun, Watch Chief, to record information about the tow a using computerized data collection system called SCS (Scientific Computer Systems). I go into a room on the bridge and listen to the deck department communicating with the bridge and I record when the dredge is on the bottom, towing, and back on deck. The information is tracked in SCS with button pushers. I also log information about wave height, swell direction, and swell height, which I receive from the officer on watch. I also need to record depth, time, and speed of the boat during a dredge tow. This provides accurate data for the scientists back on land to analyze. As soon as that part of my job is finished, I come down stairs to help sort and shuck the clams..
The clam dredge aboard the DELAWARE II
Personal Log
Holy Cow, a 12 hour shift….from noon until mid-night! I was worried, but the shift seems to fly by. There is always something that needs to be done. I was assigned by Jakub Kircun, Watch Chief, to record the sensors for the dredge itself. What a responsibility!!! Talk about pressure. Sean, Chief Scientist, has been really great. His sense of humor has helped ease my stress. I never realized how much computers are used aboard a ship to monitor experimental data. Not to mention the general running of the ship….. There are 31 computers in all. For each tow which Sean and Jakub call a station, I do the recording for the dredge then come down stairs…put on my boots and bib overalls and head out to sort the clams with the others on my team. It’s a big job…good thing I am used to working in the woods of Wyoming… otherwise, I don’t think I could keep up!!!
Laurie sorts clam on the fantail of the ship.
After we sort the clams, Tina, a graduate student from University of Connecticut, and I measure and weigh the clams using a special computerized machine called a Limnoterra Fish Measuring Board. Tina and I are becoming great clam shuckers. We need to weigh the clams both with and without the shell. Joe, the other volunteer, also helps weigh and shuck the clams. Sometimes they are sweet smelling… but sometimes not! They look nothing like Howard Johnson’s Clam Strips!
I have started a shell collection to bring back to my school. I will be working with the Science Coordinator to design science experiments that use data from our trip. The Chief Scientist, Sean Lucey, is working with me to develop lesson plans that use the data being collected. Just learning to find my way around the ship has been a challenge. I’ve learned to find the galley…. great food. Walt and John, the ship’s stewards, are fantastic chefs. Today we had crab cakes with lemon sauce, vegetables, and peach cobbler with whipped cream for dessert. I am telling myself that as much physical work as I am doing I can eat what I want….that’s my story and I am sticking to it!
All the crew has been welcoming and accepting. Richie and Adam, NOAA crewmembers, take care of securing the dredge. It looks like a dangerous job to me! They both have a great sense of humor.
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jill Carpenter
Onboard NOAA Ship Delaware II September 5 – 15, 2006
Mission: Herring Hydroacoustic Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Date: September 14, 2006
Weather Data from Bridge
Visibility: 10 nautical miles
Wind direction: 180o
Wind speed: 14 kts
Sea wave height: 2ft.
Swell wave height: 7 ft./9 sec. from 90o
Seawater temperature: 16.8oC
Sea level pressure: 1018.7mb
Cloud cover: PC
Teacher at Sea Jill Carpenter on board the DELAWARE II.
Science and Technology Log
The trip is winding down and we will be in port in a few hours. I am writing this final log in the early hours of the morning of my last night shift. We will soon be approaching Cape Cod Canal, and our time of arrival into Woods Hole is scheduled for 9:30 this morning. On last night’s shift, we passed the time taking CTD measurements and logging the events. Unfortunately, no trawls were completed since we didn’t come upon a location with an abundance of fish. Tonight we began with a trawl. As with the last trawl, the majority of our catch was redfish. We also caught Atlantic herring, northern shrimp, anchovies, pearlsides, silver hake and red hake, short fin squid, several dogfish and a goosefish. The catch from the trawl was sorted by species, just as before. The individual species were weighed and measured. Again, we took a subsample of redfish which means that we took a portion of the total catch and measured each individual length. Additional information was again gathered on the herring including sex, maturity stage, and stomach contents, and then a subsample was frozen for age analysis back at the lab. The Fisheries Scientific Computer System (FSCS) system was used for entry of the biological data.
I was also able to interview a few more of the crewmembers on the ship. Commanding Officer Richard Wingrove (otherwise known as Captain) has worked his way up to his Commander position during his 17 years experience with NOAA. Richard has a degree in Marine Biology and has loved the ocean from the time he was a child. His extensive background experiences include being a satellite oceanographer for the NOAA Hurricane Center, working for the National Marine Sanctuary on oil spill cleanups, and serving the Peace Corps as a fisheries officer in Antigua. As commanding officer of the NOAA ship DELAWARE II, his job involves overseeing the entire ship, supervising officers, and safely completing missions. He claims the best part of his job is working with the crew, which he thinks of as his family at sea, although he admits it is still tough being away from his real family. As one can imagine, the job of commanding officer comes with a great amount of responsibility. Richard is in charge of a $12 1/2 million ship and a crew of 34 people. Pretty intimidating!
Jill Carpenter in her survival suit
He has a great deal of fond memories and stories of rough seas, though he recalls one humorous incident in particular. He was once on board a ship off the coast of Alaska when the seas were 25-30 ft. It was so rough that all the crew could do was ride out the seas; the cooks weren’t even able to make a meal! On a dare from the other crew members, Richard tried jumping up to touch his back to the ceiling, but mistimed his jump and ended up being slammed to the floor when the ship descended quickly and the ceiling pushed him down. He was stunned, but otherwise okay. This legendary stunt is still spoken of amongst Richard’s seafaring friends. Richard recommends taking many classes in science and math if one is interested in commanding a ship.
Lead fisherman Pete Langlois has experienced a lot of rough weather during his six years at sea aboard NOAA ships. He has many responsibilities aboard the DELAWARE II. A lead fisherman splits a 24 hour shift with the boatswain, and their duties are to operate the machinery on deck, such as the nets, winches and crane. Pete is responsible for the fishermen’s and scientists’ safety on deck while machinery is operating. He also oversees the deployments and recoveries of scientific instruments such as the CTD sensor. Additional duties of a lead fisherman include general maintenance of the ship, such as loading and unloading stores and equipment. Mr. Langlois also serves as third mate of the ship. A third mate is in charge of the track lines of the ship and acts as a representative of the captain.
One of the first things that Pete recommends for future sailors is to try spending time aboard a ship to see if you like it. It is also necessary to get your Able Seaman Certificate which is issued by the U.S Coast Guard. One path to pursuing your career is through a maritime academy, such as the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He claims there is a high demand for all positions aboard ships, and it is important to get experience at sea in order to get an Able Seamen or Captain’s license.
TAS Jill Carpenter in front of the NOAA ship DELAWARE II
Personal Log
Although I am sad for the trip to be over, I am looking forward to returning home to my family, friends, and classroom and sharing my experience with them. This trip has been invaluable to me in so many ways. I have met many amazing people, I have participated in recording ocean data, and I have seen how much thought, effort and talent goes into a fisheries research vessel. I am fortunate to have completed 3 mid-water trawls while on board. Being able to see and touch the fish that we are studying was amazing. I gained hands-on knowledge and experience, and I began to see the species not as slimy and gross fish, but as a necessary tool for progressing our understanding of ocean species.
The crew of the DELAWARE II has been nothing but welcoming and accommodating to me. I appreciated all of their care, time and patience with me as I learned about life on board a scientific research ship. Their sincere good natures and the humorous spirits will always be remembered by me. I can now better understand the wisdom shared by our Chief Scientist, Bill Michaels, about how people and teamwork are to be greatly appreciated. People are such a large part of what make a job enjoyable. It is easy to see that the entire crew of the DELAWARE II enjoy their jobs and each other’s company. They make an unbelievably great team. Thanks to all of the crewmembers of the DELAWARE II. I will never forget you or my experiences on board. My students will surely benefit from my gained knowledge for years to come. Thanks again for sharing a slice of your lives with me. I’ve been inspired by all of you.
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jill Carpenter
Onboard NOAA Ship Delaware II September 5 – 15, 2006
Mission: Herring Hydroacoustic Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Date: September 12, 2006
Weather Data from Bridge
Visibility: 10 nautical miles
Wind direction: 60 degrees
Wind speed: 17 knots
Sea wave height: 5 feet
Swell wave height: ~ 1f
Seawater temperature: 17.3oC
Sea level pressure: 1029.1 mb
Cloud cover: PC (partly cloudy)
TAS Jill Carpenter with a lumpfish caught with a mid-water trawl
Science and Technology Log
On Sunday, the DELAWARE II steamed out of the Great Harbor. Our first stop was Cape Cod Bay, and then we continued to the Gulf on Maine. It’s great to be at sea! My first night on the night shift felt very productive to me. I worked with fisheries biologists Dr. Jech and Karen to rig up the monofilament (fishing line) so we could attach the copper spheres beneath the hull in order to complete calibrations of the acoustic system. As explained in an earlier log, calibrations are required for each survey to ensure data quality and to verify that the equipment is working properly. We were mostly successful, but a few events slowed our progress, such as having to reposition the ship because of fixed gear (lobster traps) in the water near us. Once we located the copper spheres in each of the remote-controlled downriggers in order to move the copper sphere in all directions within the beam. After we worked out all the bugs during the first calibration, the system worked smoothly for the two remaining frequency calibrations. When we finished, we disassembled the downriggers and put away the gear.
We finished our first shift by deploying a Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) sensor and keeping track of it in the Event Log book and computer program. A CTD is an instrument that is equipped with devices which measure the salinity and temperature of the water and the depth of the instrument. Connected to a cable and winch system, it is lowered into the water within meters of the ocean floor, all the while taking measurements and sending data to computers on deck. A profile of salinity and temperature is taken at the end of each transect, or path, that the ship makes and also before a trawl is completed.
TAS Jill Carpenter with two redfish caught with a mid-water trawl
Deploying a CTD is a joint effort on the part of the officers on the bridge, the fishermen and the scientists. Communication takes place via walkie-talkies to synchronize the deployment time. While the officers on the bridge maintain the location of the ship and watch out for traffic, the fishermen are deploying the CTD instrument and the scientists are logging the event, recording information such as time of deployment and the latitude and longitude of the deployment. My second night on the night shift was also very eventful. We had begun a series of transects, which basically means that the ship zigzags back and forth across the ocean in order to take CTD measurements and locate large schools of fish for the purpose of trawling, or catching fish for biological sampling. Twice during the night, in the middle of parallel transects, we completed trawls. The High Speed Midwater Rope Trawl (HSMRT) is a funnel-shaped net attached to wires, also known as trawl warps, which are spooled onto winches located on the aft deck of the ship. The HSMRT is used to collect biological samples. The decision on where to trawl rests with the scientists as they interpret acoustic data, so if the acoustic system shows that there is a large collection of objects (hopefully fish) below the surface, a trawl may be completed. Trawling is also a group effort between the officers, the fishermen, and the scientists. The net is set out and retrieved by the fishermen who control the depth of the net and monitor its performance. The officers on the bridge work with the fishermen during the trawl to ensure its success.
The catch from the trawls is sorted by species. Then the individual species are weighed and measured. The catch from our first trawl included redfish, Atlantic herring, lumpfish, and northern shrimp. We then took a subsample of redfish which means that we took a portion of the total catch and measured each individual length. Because herring is the primary focus of this survey, additional information was also gathered on this species including sex, maturity stage, and stomach contents, and then a subsample was frozen for age analysis back at the lab. The Fisheries Scientific Computer System (FSCS) system was used for entry of the biological data. This is done by using a stylus to press the buttons on the computer screen to enter the catch information. The scales used for weighing the fish and the measuring boards automatically send their information into the computer system. The data is saved and later will be analyzed by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
TAS Jill Carpenter with a basket of redfish caught for the Herring Hydroacoustic Survey
Personal Log
I apologize for not writing in a few days. As I predicted, the shift work is taking a bit of a toll on me, and I haven’t been sleeping well during the day due to slight seasickness. It is such a strange feeling to be lying in bed and rocking back and forth. Sometimes the boat pitched so much that my stomach got butterflies, just like when you ride a roller coaster and go down a steep hill. I had to keep getting up and sitting on one of the decks so I could see the horizon and get some fresh air. Our stateroom has no windows, so there is no way of telling what the conditions are outside. I had to laugh at myself when I went up to the bridge, expecting to see a ferocious storm and high sea swells, only to find blue skies and slightly choppy waters. A combination of Dramamine, ginger root tablets, and Saltine crackers also helped to calm my stomach.
This past night of sleeping (rather, day of sleeping) went much better. I seemed to be used to the motion of the ship, and I fell asleep right away. It helped to wedge myself in between the wall and my bag to keep from rocking back and forth so much. I feel rested and much more confident to handle the seas. It was forecasted that Hurricane Florence would make our ride a bit rough, though she is passing several hundred miles from our location and seas have been much calmer than expected, which is fine with me! Even so, I can now see why we had to spend time tying down equipment so it wouldn’t slide or roll. When the ship was docked, it was hard to imagine it moving so much to necessitate securing items so well, but the need was evident to me after this shift. Several times during the night, the ship rolled side to side so much that even heavy items fell over and off tables. The chairs we were sitting in kept sliding back and forth, and we had to hang on to the tables to keep from moving around! It was wild. I loved it! I tried to get a picture, but I had to hang on instead!
Removing otoliths (ear bones) from a redfish. Otoliths are used by scientists to age a fish.
I was proud of myself when we completed our trawls and I had to handle the fish. It was rather disturbing to see the eyes and stomachs of the fish bulge out because of the change in pressure. We had to be careful when picking up the redfish because of the prickly spines sticking out of their fins. I was a little apprehensive to feel the fish through my gloves, and I was very grossed out at the thought of picking up a slimy, dead fish, but I tried to put that aside so that I could be of some help, at least. The biologists I was working with jumped right in and weren’t squeamish at all. After all, this is part of their job and the focus of their research. I tried to be brave and handle the fish confidently and without shrieking just as they did, but I still looked a bit wimpy. The important thing, though, is that I tried something new and walked away with an invaluable learning experience. Cutting apart a herring to examine its insides was a little over my limit, but I tried it anyway and now I am glad that I did. I figured that it’s not every day that I have the chance to dissect a fish in the name of research.
I spoke with Mrs. Nelson the other day, and she said I have a bright group of fifth graders awaiting my return. I can’t wait to show all of you my pictures and share this incredible learning experience with you.
Question of the Day
When weighing fish on board the ship, it is necessary to “tare” the scale. This means that if a fish is being weighed in a bucket, we must first put the empty bucket on the scale, and then we need to reset the scale so it measures to zero kilograms. After that, we place the fish in the bucket and put it back on the scale.
Why do you think it is important for scientists to tare a scale when weighing objects that are in containers?
