NOAA Teacher at Sea
Chuck Gregory
Onboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson August 12 – 24, 2007
Mission: Hydrographic Survey Geographical Area: New York Harbor Date: August 21, 2007
“Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” ~Thomas Jefferson
Here’s the Plan of the Day (POD):
Sunrise = 0612h Sunset = 1947h
0000h Ship at Sandy Hook, NJ anchorage
0730h Take first Dramamine
0745h Launch safety brief (Survey)
0800h Deploy Launches
1130h Take second Dramamine
TBD Commence underway checkoff; Light off Main Engine; Ship underway/anchor
1745h Retrieve launches
Tides for Sandy Hook High @ 0205h (3.8 ft.) & 1438h (4.6 ft.); Low @ 0759h (1.3 ft.) & 2122h (1.4 ft.); Currents in Sandy Hook Channel Ebb: 0548h (1.1 kts.), 1840h (1.2 kts.); Flood: 1149h (1.7 kts.) & 0018h (1.0 kts.); weather from Sandy Hook to Fire Island AM: E winds 10-15 kts., seas 4-6 ft., PM: NE winds 10-15 kts., seas 4-6 feet. AM/PM Showers & Drizzle.
One of the life rings on the TJ
As expected, we were greeted this morning with more wind and rain. For now the launches are delayed two hours, but, from the looks of the sea, we’re assuming they will be canceled. While waiting for the final word I responded to a few e-mails. My TAS log is up on the NOAA TAS website, and the pictures Eric and I sent look great thanks to Liz McMahon in the TAS office. At 0945h we heard that launch operations were canceled for the day. So, I went down to exercise and found the room “crowded” – two others were using the equipment. Since the stationary bike was in use I spent 20 minutes on the elliptical.
Since I have the time, I’d like to add a little note about life at sea and working on a NOAA ship. Many of the crew I spoke with love their jobs, but cite distance from home as the #1 downer of their NOAA job. I can see why. Phone calls and e-mails at the only real contact points with loved ones. And if you think the dial up internet connection is slow, try sending a snail mail letter when the ship won’t be able to deliver your note to the post office for days. It takes the right attitude to stay on the ship for weeks, and you do need to keep your mind and body busy. Like anything else, the work is hard but the rewards are great! Each night, when I go out on deck to phone Roxann, it’s common to see four or five crew members at some corner of the main deck phoning their families. A sweet time to catch up with the folks at home, and informing the family that we are well and miss them. I am on the THOMAS JEFFERSON for 12 days and really miss my beautiful wife. I can’t imagine what it must be like to stay on the ship for three or four weeks! Sometimes I wonder if even NOAA’s seasoned veterans get used to the time away?
While I’m at it, and on a lighter note, there is another item I sadly miss – a beer! Roxann and I are so use to coming home after work and having a drink. However, drinking aboard NOAA ships is forbidden (as it should be). Maybe this is why some of the “boys” have a little toooo much when they go on leave. Feast or famine. So, when asked, “What is the first thing I will do when I get home?” The answer is drink a beer. This rainy afternoon everyone on the ship went through two drills: fire & emergency (one long bell), and abandon ship (seven short bells followed by a long one). The CO and FOO coordinate these activities to keep us on our safety toes, and Bob Schwartz was filming both exercises.
For the fire & emergency drill my assignment is to muster (assemble) at the 02 Deck, port side. [That’s two floors above the main deck on the left side of the ship.] I was in my stateroom at the time and was able to grab my raincoat on my way out the door. It was a good thing as the 02 Deck was being lashed with wind and rain. We stayed there about ten minutes – long enough for the fire team to put on their gear and respond to the mock fire. Immediately afterward, the abandon ship drill was held in the main deck hallway. Most ship’s personal gathered with immersion (survival) suits and life jackets. Those without suits acted as inspectors and waxed the zippers for ease of use. All in all, two good exercises.
When the drills were done we all assembled in the Mess for a debriefing – what went right and what could be improved. Safety is paramount on a ship like the THOMAS JEFFERSON. As was stated during the debriefing, we are responsible for each other on the THOMAS JEFFERSON and we can’t rely on the local fire department to help us out. The CO and FOO lead a brief discussion, and we soon returned to our task at hand. Dinner was ribs and duck. Good stuff. There are always potatoes or rice and a veggie to add to the meat. And there is a salad bar for the “roughage”, plus dessert. No one goes hungry on the THOMAS JEFFERSON.
After dinner Helen gave me a CD of four of NOAA’s sonar Power Point presentations. While most of the sonar theory is over my head, I really wanted the cool pictures that make up most of the presentations. I am sure to use these back at SMCC. Thanks Helen! Another phone call to Roxann – all is well but cold at home – and I am ready to enjoy the evening. With only two plus days to go I need to be sure I have seen and experienced as much as possible. If only the weather would improve!
Tomorrow I am scheduled to be on launch 3101 – a first for me. Good night!
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Elizabeth Martz
Onboard NOAA Ship Albatross IV August 5 – 16, 2007
Mission: Sea Scallop Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Ocean Date: August 8, 2007
Weather Data from the Bridge
Visibility = <1 nautical miles
Cloud cover = fog
Wind direction = 200 degrees
Wind speed = 21 knots (kts.)
Sea wave height = 2-3 feet
Swell wave height = 2 feet
Seawater temperature = 15.1 degrees Celsius
Sea level pressure = 1004.2 mb
I love finding the sea scallops in the pile of all items from one dredge tow. I am having a remarkable time on the ALBATROSS IV
Science and Technology Log
12:00 midnight—Today my 12 hour shifts began. This is an amazing experience. I am loving my time onboard the ALBATROSS IV. It is quite exciting. Today was outstanding. I am experiencing being a researcher at sea. The ALBATROSS IV has 12-hour shifts. The researchers are organized into two different shifts which are each 12 hours. I am on the midnight to noon shift. It is very different than my “teacher hours”. I usually work from 7:30 to 5:00 at school. I am only required to be at school from 7:45- 3:15, but I can never accomplish all of my responsibilities in that brief of a time. I love school and I love being prepared. To work on the ALBATROSS IV, you need to be prepared and ready for a hard day’s work! I am loving the work and at this time it is not too hard.
My Responsibilities
Steve is assisting with sending the dredge into the water. It is about 2 am and we are 2 hours into our watch shift. The dredge is over 1,600 lbs. and there are many pieces of equipment that help the dredge function properly!
I am a working member onboard the ALBATROSS IV. I am making every moment count and I am learning so much. The dredge haul experience is unbelievable. There are two fishermen that help to release and the dredge. The two fishermen on my watch are Steve and Mike. They are amazing at fixing the net, loading the dredge, releasing the dredge, retrieving the dredge, cleaning the deck, helping to sort the organisms in the tow, and so much more. These fishermen have the expertise of sending the dredge into the water and helping it return back after a 15-minute tow. The Chief Boatswain (head fisherman), Tony, controls the mechanical devices that assist the fishermen in sending the dredge to sea. Tony is so talented. He has the ability to communicate and accomplish any task onboard the ALBATROSS IV! The fisherman and all the scientists on my watch observe the dredge coming onboard the ship. Once the dredge is on deck there is so much to do!!! When the dredge returns from being in the water for 15 minutes, there is so much to do. First, the fishermen need to bring the dredge up on deck. There are strong metal wires that bring the dredge up on deck. There are metal pulleys that help move the wire. There are mechanically parts that are controlled so that the dredge lands on deck without damaging anything… including the dredge. The entire process is so awesome and neat.
The scientists are all so excited to discover new things in this pile. Every dredge tow is full of biotic and abiotic items. It is so wonderful to discover new things.
After the dredge is placed on deck, the fun begins. First, a scientist checks the dredge to see if it laid correctly on the ocean floor. The equipment that records the behavior of the tow is called an inclinometer. The inclinometer is placed inside the top of the dredge and the information is recorded. The scientist then needs to go to a different room to read the information from the inclinometer. It is an interesting piece of scientific equipment. The next experience is the best!! After a quick photo of what materials are found in the dredge, all the scientists gather around the dredge materials. We all marvel at what we dredged and then sort the items. We place all fish in one bucket and all skates in another. The scallops are all collected. The scallops are even organized by size. (Very small scallops are placed in a different bucket.) All the extra items go in a different bucket. When all biotic items have been discovered, then we shovel all the “habitat” (rocks and sand) into baskets. Every object that lands on deck is counted and documented.
I love all the amazing things I have found from this experience
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Elizabeth Martz
Onboard NOAA Ship Albatross IV August 5 – 16, 2007
Mission: Sea Scallop Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Ocean Date: August 6, 2007
Wood’s Hole is an amazing place of nature, water, and other environmental benefits. Notice how many boats & people benefit from the water.
Science and Technology Log
7:15 a.m.—Breakfast. I met many scientists, crew, teachers, officers, & more… details about Sea Scallop Leg III will occur at 10 am. Awesome food for breakfast.
8:30 a.m.—Free time in the town. I saw the countryside, the marina, & visited the town of Wood’s Hole. We had a scientist’s meeting for all watch shifts. (I am on the 12 a.m. (midnight) -12 p.m. (noon) watch.) We discussed expectations, responsibilities, and ideas about this adventure/experience. We were informed of sexual harassment, drug possession rules, and other NOAA policies. I clearly understood my expectations and responsibilities. The ALBATROSS IV is 187 feet in length, 38 feet in width. The major reason that the ALBATROSS IV is out to sea is to learn more about the sea scallop population. We sample for sea scallops from Virginia to Eastern Georges Bank (off the coast of Nova Scotia). This is the Leg III of the Sea Scallop study. We will be surveying sea scallops from Northern part of Georges Bank that borders on the Gulf of Maine to the Great South Channel east of Massachusetts. The dredge is towed for 15 minutes at a speed of 3.8 knots. The dredge covers about 1.0 nautical miles of ocean bottom. A nautical mile is compared to 1.15 land mile.
Questions for the Day (I am always thinking about how my students can benefit from my experiences!)
How many students in my class have been to the ocean?
How many students in my class have touched an aquatic or marine organism?
How many students can name 10 different aquatic organisms?
How many students have been on a large ship or cruise ship?
This sea a scallop was collected during a night dredge onboard
Details about sorting the dredge haul:
Sea scallops are collected, measured, and weighed. This scallop is upside down. The top of a scallop is more convex (curves out) and the bottom of a scallop is more flat. Do you see how the convex side (the top of the sea scallop) fits nicely in your hand? The white area you see is the male gonad of the sea scallop. The fleshy, white section that a customer eats is found deeper inside the sea scallop. All the diverse organisms we find in the dredge are collected in blue buckets. Each organism is sorted by type and measured individually by a researcher. Many studies are being conducted onboard the ALBATROSS IV. Some of the studies include: sea scallop shell analysis for age, sea scallop size analysis, sea scallop health analysis, human health when consuming sea scallops, skate analysis, populations of starfish and crabs, water characteristics are analyzed, and so much more. The focus of the ALBATROSS IV’s voyage is to count the number of sea scallops from each dredge. The scientists also collect fish, skates, and other unique organisms at each station.
Shawn McPhee & Adrienne Heim are measuring scallops. Over 350 scallops were collected on one dredge haul.
The fish include American plaice flounder, Atlantic Hagfish, fourspot flounder, goosefish, longhorn sculpin, northern sand lance, ocean pout, red hake, sea raven, windowpane flounder, winter flounder, yellowtail flounder, and more. The skates include barndoor skate, little skate, winter skate, smooth skate, and more. Unique organisms include octopus, squid, and lobsters. If there are more scallops than we can sort or measure, we conduct a subsample. A subsample is when you choose a smaller amount to measure and expand by volume.
For example, if you have 10 baskets of scallops, you choose 5 to measure and your expansion is two.
Orange baskets hold “habitat”. Abiotic habitat items include rocks, boulders, gravel, sand, and shells. Biotic habitat items include: brittle stars, shrimp, sand dollars, clams, and spider crabs. All of these biotic and abiotic items are counted and documented for each station.
The number of crabs and starfish is calculated every third station. The CTD shows the details of the water column and helps determine where scallops are found.
The dredge is equipped with an inclinometer. This equipment is a sensor that measures dredge angle relative to the bottom of the ocean floor. The sensor has an internal clock that allows us to determine the amount of time that the dredge is on the bottom and in fishing position.
We collected this many sea scallops from one dredge. It is outstanding how many scallops live in one area of the Atlantic Ocean. I counted and learned details about scallops.
Good Questions for My Students
If you know the average speed (V) of the vessel during that time (T) you can calculate the distance that the dredge travelled. The students can use the equation : Distance = Velocity x Time
Would you be a researcher out at sea(on the ocean)? If you had the chance to investigate the number of sea scallops in an area of the Atlantic Ocean, would you go?
Why are research vessels, like the ALBATROSS IV, so important for the study of science?
ALBATROSS IV Topics of Investigation
Sea Scallop study and investigation.
FDA sea scallop study. The FDA is dissecting and analyzing the health of the sea scallops. The sea scallop gonads and viscera are being tested for hazardous toxins: a marine biotoxin called saxitoxin. It causes PSP: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. The sea scallop is unharmed because saxitoxin is part of their diet. The sea scallops are filter-feeders. The saxitoxin is produced by a dinoflagellate called Alexandrium Species. Saxitoxin is a neuron toxin that affects your nervous system. It specifically causes concerns in the nervous system where your breathing and muscle movement is controlled. If saxitoxin is consumed by a person, the affected person can be incubated (a tube is placed down your throat and air is forced into your lungs), then you will be fine. If you do not seek medical attention, you will have major difficulty breathing and the person will have concerns with their nervous system (all other functions). Not good!!
A Tour of the ALBATROSS IV
There are 3 outside wet work stations, inside dry station, CTD station, Watch Chief station, and more! There is a galley, Researcher work areas, hurricane deck, computer room, Officer’s staterooms, our living quarters, exercise room, “the bridge”, and other areas that I will discover throughout the boat. There are 14 scientists onboard this vessel. I am one of those scientists. It has been stated that the research collected would not be possible without the help of volunteers. Very cool. I feel like I am an important part of this journey out to sea.
Important fact: When I am on watch: It is so important to take everything with me! Do not go back to the room. Be sure to have your computer, notes, change of clothes, and more. Be prepared.
All stations (randomly picked sites) give scientists about the sea scallop population and details about their survival. Victor has a map posted in the dry lab. It is awesome. It is really, really cool and neat.
Victor stated over and over again!!!! ASK QUESTIONS!
Questions I Have
What is the basic sea scallop population in the Atlantic Ocean?
How do the populations change from one site to another? The distribution is relative to depth, latitude, bottom type, and temperature/ salinity! If we go to an area more shallow we will not locate as many sea scallops.
Why does the population change over several years in the same area? Recruitment is a factor. This means that baby scallops larvae will settle in an area and they will grow.
In what water depth can you find the most sea scallops? Why?
What environmental conditions are best for sea scallop survival?
In what other areas of the world are sea scallops present and prevalent?
What helps the sea scallops survive?
Drills
Fire/ collision drill: bring life vest and emergence suit; go to the wet lab and listen for announcements Abandon ship drill: 7 short sounds and one long sound ; bring life vest, emergent suit, long sleeve shirt, long pants, and go to raft #6 Man overboard: go to lookout area and point the entire time!
This is the standard dredge that is extremely important in collecting sea scallops from the ocean.
Other Announcements
Always report concerns! Be vocal when you have a problem and let’s solve it. Please don’t keep it inside and cause you concern… share what you feel.
This Sea Scallop survey has viewed, documented, and calculated organism counts in over 500 stations. The Sea Scallop survey is analyzing information about the location of sea scallops, the growth of sea scallops, and so much more. The Chief Scientist, Victor Nordahl, would love to use this information about sea scallops to begin more studies about the ecosystem. He stated “The sea scallop information is an excellent start to understanding the entire make-up of the ecosystem where the scallops are found. If we discover more about where we find the sea scallops, then we can help the sea scallops and more organisms survive. The ALBATROSS IV may be retired soon. The boat has experienced and investigated numerous events. The vessel is beginning to show wear and tear. It has equipment that shows age and needs repair. Each boat needs to stay in compliance with NOAA standards and the ALBATROSS IV continues to make repairs to keep up with those standards.
The major goal of a research vessel is to collect accurate and reliable data. When an old ship is retired (no longer used to collect scientific information), then scientists need to compare the equipment on the old ship with the equipment on the new ship. This is called calibration. The new ship will use information from the old ship for at least one year. The data needs to be compared and analyzed because all data is used for long-term studies. If one ship makes scientific conclusions and another ship makes conclusions that are totally different from the first ship, then the data is not valid. The data could not be used and the scientists work would be a waste. So, NOAA and other research companies who collect scientific data need to make sure that their research procedures are accurate and reliable.
We will actually collect information about the sea scallop population using 2 different nets. The information will be analyzed and conclusions will be calculated about the reliability of the different dredges. The research outcomes will allow scientists to determine how the dredges and nets are different. The scientists will calculate the differences between the equipment and make a calibration. Neat stuff.
10:45 a.m.—Tour of Marine Biological Lab. Bill Kramer, an information technology scientist for NOAA, gave us a tour MBL (Marine Biological Laboratory). We learned about the marine environment and observed animals in the aquariums.
12:20 p.m.—Lunch. Excellent selection and many healthy choices. Great food.
1:20 p.m.-12:30 a.m.—ALBATROSS IV needs a special type of fuel/oil. We had free time. I explored Wood’s Hole on 8/6/06, so I took the ferry to Oak Bluff! It was outstanding. I did get caught in an enormous rain storm, but I made it safely to Wood’s Hole. I am so honored to be a part of the NOAA crew and I look forward to my adventure! I had the chance that night to speak to many other volunteers. We stayed up and talked all evening about our ideas and hopes for this trip. We are all excited and motivated to be a part of the crew of the ALBATROSS IV!!
I am very enthusiastically anticipating what I am going to do and what I will learn.
Will I personally collect sea scallops? I think so!
Will I see other marine organisms? Whales? Dolphins? Fish? Birds? I hope!!
How can I share with my students what I learned from this experience? Pictures, lessons, stories, and interviews
How will I organize all the information I learn so that my students have a better understanding about being a researcher? Computer documents and more
How can I document everything I see and do using my digital camera? Take 1,000 pictures
How can I motivate my students to be life-long learners? Smile and share stories of my adventures at sea!
How many of my students participate in fun summer activities involving science? I do hope that many students get involved in science camps and more. After I return, I plan to share stories and I hope this motivates them to attend science events!!
Why should students want to be scientists and researchers? I think it is obvious!! Science rules!!!
How will I help the marine organisms survive or how will I make a difference in the lives of others who study marine life? Be happy!
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Claude Larson
Onboard NOAA Ship Albatross IV July 23 – August 3, 2007
Mission: Sea Scallop Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Ocean Date: July 26, 2007
Weather Data from the Bridge
Air Temperature: 21.9º C
Water Temperature: 22.6 º C
Relative Humidity: 91%
Wind Speed: 8 knots
Wind Direction: S
Melissa Ellwanger (left) and Stacey Etheridge check the results for PSPs.
Science and Technology Log
The ALBATROSS IV is well underway with the second leg of its Sea Scallop Survey for this year. After several tows we have collected, counted, weighed and measured not only sea scallops but, several types of fish, crabs and starfish. As a teacher, I would like to focus on the application of some the science that is going on here on the ship. Specifically, I want to explain the work of two scientists on board Stacey Etheridge and Melissa Ellwanger who work at the FDA, Food and Drug Administration.
Sea scallops are studied by NOAA because of their importance commercially. People enjoy them baked, fried, sautéed and served up hot. In other parts of the world, Europe and Asia, certain parts of the scallops are valued commercially as a food source. These parts are the gonads and viscera, or internal organs and membranes. Last year the FDA had to close certain fishing areas were closed to bivalve molluscan harvesting because PSPs, paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins were too high for human consumption. These toxins accumulate in filter feeders and thus harvesting was closed to organisms such as surfclams, mussels and quahogs. Sea scallops could still be harvested for the adductor muscle only. Toxins in scallops, however, build up in the gonads and viscera. If a person were to eat these affected seafoods they could actually become paralyzed and it could be fatal unless the victim receives respiratory support.
The toxins are produced by certain algae that are found in the environment with the scallops. The toxins vary in potency and can actually become stronger after the scallops eat them by interacting with the digestive processes of the sea scallop. This leads us to Stacey and Melissa’s experiment. At each collection of sea scallops, they collect twelve random sea scallops to test. They dissect the scallop and separate the gonad and viscera and test them separately. They puree the organs, add extraction chemicals, filter them and then test the liquid that they filter from the organs on little test plates that look like test strips people use when they are trying to find out if they are pregnant.
The preliminary results from some of the samples they have collected have been positive for PSPs. This raises the question about whether or not those collected scallops can be sold for all of their parts or just the meaty section. The work Stacey and Melissa are doing with NOAA and the FDA is an excellent example of applied science that benefits people and helps improve one of their food sources.
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Claude Larson
Onboard NOAA Ship Albatross IV July 23 – August 3, 2007
Mission: Sea Scallop Survey Geographical Area: North Atlantic Ocean Date: July 25, 2007
Weather Data from the Bridge
Air Temperature: 21.7° C
Water Temperature: 22.9
Relative Humidity 93%
Wind Speed: 10 knots
Wind Direction: SE 120
Jakub Kircun teaches Claude Larson how to insert the probe that measures inclination in the top of the dredge equipment.
Science and Technology Log
Today was the beginning of our first 12 hour watches. The tows were relatively well spaced which allowed for ample clean up time between tows and even for a little down time as we steamed for over an hour and I have a few minutes to write this log entry.
As I learn the skills needed to be useful on the Scallop Survey, I want to give you an idea of how a tow is carried out. The bridge generally gives us a ten minute alert before a tow over the all call system. From that point we can finish up what we are doing and prepare for the tow. A crew member operates a huge winch and block and tackle that moves a thick metal cable. The cable is attached to a large metal hook that is attached to an 8 foot wide dredge net. The net is raised from the aft deck of the ship and put in the water. The dredge net is then towed for fifteen minutes and then lifted onto the deck. At this time, a probe that measures inclination is inserted in the dredge rigging and information about the collection of the tow is recorded and loaded onto another computer for later use.
While the probe is being read, someone takes a picture of the pile of organisms on deck with a small whiteboard with important information. This information includes the station number, stratum and tow number, as well as whether this area is open or closed to commercial fishing.
The watch crew then brings baskets and buckets over to the edges of the pile and kneels on cushions to sift through the collected material. We sort the collection into sea scallops, fish and, on each third tow, we also collect crabs. After a few minutes we shift areas and continue to look for certain animals, this helps us to make sure we have found all of the organisms we are looking for. The fish are then further sorted by species. The watch chief weighs each separate species and records that information on the FSCS, Fisheries Scientific Computer System. There are three FSCS stations and we all get to work at one of them. The computer allows you to take the scallop or fish and lay it on a long board. The organism is held along the front panel of the system and a magnet is placed at the other end. The magnet causes the computer to automatically record the length of the scallop or fish. From there some of the scallop shells are cleaned for a scientist back in Woods Hole, Dvora Hart, and carefully labeled and placed in a cloth bag. Some of the scallops are also dissected for an FDA study on PSPs, paralytic shellfish poisoning. When ever we catch a monkfish, also known as a goosefish, one of the scientists on the watch crew dissects it for vertebrae for a study they are doing on aging the fish and its reproductive stage.
Once all the organisms are measured, weighed, dissected or cleaned, the remainder of the pile is shoveled in large baskets and thrown back into the ocean. Each basket and bucket is rinsed as is each FSCS station. If another tow is arriving shortly, the watch crew prepares for repeating this process. The steps happen in relatively that order, however they also occur in a sort of unison and the watch crew starts to form a rhythm. The watch chief and veteran crew members help any of the new folks on board, which is great since we are sometimes unsure what to do next or how to do a new task. The old saying of many hands make light work definitely applies here. With each tow there are surprises to dig for. Sometimes you get to see large egg cases or beautiful shellfish and unusual fish.
With all of this said, the all call has just given us a ten minute to station call. I must get ready for whatever treasures will be brought up with this collection.
