Hello everyone! My name is Emina Mesanovic and I am so excited to have been selected by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to be a part of the 2014 Teacher at Sea field season. July 20th can’t come fast enough.
I am very excited to share this experience with everyone on the blog this summer and back at school in the fall. As I learn more about the research being done on the Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey (SEFIS), and my ship the Pisces, so will you!
During the school year I teach science at Danbury High School and I LOVE my job. The students at DHS are amazing and I enjoy watching them learn and grow as they explore science inside and outside the classroom.
Students collected physical, biological and chemical information on Long Island Sound for Project Periphyton.
In the classroom I try to give my students experiences and interactions with science content so that they can truly internalize the knowledge and be active participants in the learning process. I know that the experiences that I will have while on the cruise will enhance my ability to craft and deliver lessons, by incorporating current research into the classroom. My students are always more interested in topics that are current and relevant and I am looking forward to bringing back stories of scientists working collaboratively to study and solve problems.
Students collecting physical data on the Shepaug River for Project Periphyton.
When I am not teaching I enjoy being outdoors preferably near water. I love the beach and there is nothing I enjoy more then listening to the calming noise of the ocean while I read a good book. In planning a vacation my first thoughts are always is it near warm water and what cool and exciting things can I do there. That is how I found myself Zip-lining through the forest in the Dominican Republic and Ice Skating on the beach in San Diego.
Zip lining in the Dominican Republic
Soon I will be heading out on the NOAA Ship Pisces into the Atlantic Ocean whereI will be find out more about the various jobs my shipmates have, information about ocean ecology, and life onboard a ship. Stay tuned and let me know if you have any questions.
The Pisces my home for the next 12 days. Picture courtesy of NOAA
Geographic area of the cruise: Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina
Date: July 8, 2014
Weather Information from the Bridge
Air Temperature: 26.6 ° C
Relative Humidity: 70%
Wind Speed: 10.96 knots
You will notice that my blogs will now have two sections. The first section called “Science and Technology Log’” is where I will discuss our mission, the data that we are collecting and any other science-related news from our trip.
In the second section, called “Personal Log”, I will share about how it feels to be a part of this expedition and what it is like to live and work on the Pisces. I will also add a glossary at the end of each blog entry for some of the science and ship terms that might be unfamiliar to you.
Science and Technology Log
I am one of many people helping chief scientist, Nate Bacheler, collect data about the abundance of reef fish. Nate is a research fishery biologist and he coordinates the Southeast Fishery Independent Survey.
This work is exactly what you think it is. We are catching fish to collect data on how abundant the reef fish are off the southeast coast of the United States.
They use a trap called a chevron trap, to collect the fish. It gets its name from its unique shape.
Chevron Trap
Each time that the scientists deploy the fish traps, they use the same procedure. For instance, they use the same size of traps, the same number of traps, the same type of bait, the same amount of bait in each trap, and the same “soak time” in the ocean.
Most days, the traps will be deployed three times. Once the traps reach the surface, we sort the fish by species, measure their mass (in kg), and measure their length (in mm).
On some of the more important species that humans use for food, the scientists will take samples for other scientists to examine in order to determine how healthy a particular fish species is. For example, scientists remove the ear bones, called otoliths, to determine the age of the fish that was caught. Determining the age of the fish from the otoliths is like counting rings on a tree because the otoliths form growth marks each year.
So far, we have caught fish of all different shapes and sizes. On one of our first traps, we caught a red grouper that weighed 11.67 kilograms and was 881 mm long.
Kevin McMahon with Red Grouper
Today, we sent a trap that went down 102.97 meters. That was the deepest that the Southeast Fishery Independent Survey has ever deployed! We caught a scamp (which is a type of grouper), many red porgy, and a blackfin snapper. This was the first blackfin snapper that Nate has seen.
Personal Log
Wow, I have just had an amazing few days.
The night before we set off on our cruise, I was able to watch the fireworks from the bow of the boat. Even though it was July 5, the fireworks were delayed one day because of Hurricane Arthur.
The best view of the Morehead City,NC fireworks show was from the deck of the Pisces.
The morning came quickly, and, we headed out to sea.
This is my last view of land for a while!
Here are some of my initial thoughts:
I am in awe over the vastness of our ocean. I wish that I was a poet because then I could describe it a lot better. To me, it seems like we are a million of miles from the coast. Everywhere you look, you see the most beautiful blue color. I think the Crayola crayon company should create a new color in honor the ocean and call it “ocean blue” if they haven’t already created a crayon this color.
Check out the color of the ocean while the deck crew wait to deploy the next trap.
But, even though all I see is water in every direction, we are only 60.5 miles south, southeast off the coast from the Beaufort Inlet.
I also am impressed with all the collaboration that is necessary to make the mission a success. For instance, there are two different groups of scientists on the boat. One group spends the night mapping the ocean floor using multibeam sonar. They share this information with the fishery scientists early in the morning so that they can decide where to place the traps for the next day. The scientists also have to coordinate with the crew of the ship. The scientists are constantly communicating with the crew and the crew are constantly communicating with the scientists. This work could not happen with out the help of everyone on board.
I also like how everyone is conscious about safety. At school we have fire drills and tornado drills in case of emergencies. On the ship, we also have fire drills and “abandon ship” drills. Check out the picture of me in my “gumby” suit during our “abandon ship” drill. I had to go to my lifeboat location and then put on my survival suit to protect me from hypothermia in case I fell in the water in the unlikely event that we had to abandon ship. We also needed to bring a hat, a long-sleeve shirt, and long pants for the “abandon ship” drill. Why do you think we need that?
Kevin McMahon in his survival suit
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Bow – the front end of the ship.
Bridge – the part of the ship that is the command center. The officers navigate the ship from this location.
Hypothermia- a dangerous condition when your body temperature drops too much, usually as a result of being exposed to cold temperatures for too long.
NOAA Teacher at Sea
Paul Ritter
Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces July 16– August 1, 2013
Pisces team picture
Mission: Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey (SEFIS) Geographical area of cruise: southeastern US Atlantic Ocean waters (continental shelf and shelf-break waters ranging from Cape Hatteras, NC to Port St. Lucie, FL) Date: July 31, 2013
Weather Data from the Bridge
Science, personal, Technology Log
Date: Wednesday July 31, 2013 One day before we leave but you would not know it on the ship. We are business as usual. Our team is somewhere off of the coast of Cape Canaveral, and we have three sets of traps to set before we can call it a day. With NASA’s Cape Canaveral Space Center in the background, we began laying traps in a zigzag pattern over the top of an underwater rock formation that the acoustics lab found the night before.
Our day’s catch was much better than in days past due to the fact that we he had moved much closer to shore. For some reason our leg of the expedition experienced an unusual upwelling of cold water upon the continental shelf where we were exploring. Our temperatures for most of the trip ranged from 14 to 16 degrees Celsius. Once we traveled closer to shore our temperatures went up to around 19 degrees Celsius. This change in location meant that the water on the ocean floor was warmer and warmer water means more reef fish that are hungry. FISH ON.
Notably, something that stands out in my mind that has made the entire trip successful is the camaraderie of the acoustics, and the wet /dry lab teams. You would not know by looking, that many of them had never met prior to this trip. Arguably, these people are the best of the best in the marine biology industry, and none of them have egos. They are so fun to be around. They are very much a family. Every time someone enters either lab, a round of “HEY’S” is shouted out by the entire group, as if we had not seen each other in years. It reminds me of the old television show Cheers, when Norm would walk in to the bar and everyone would yell his name “NORM”. I loved that show. Anyway, I would give almost anything to work, side by side, with these people the rest of my life. I imagine that this group of scientist is exactly what all other researchers aspire to have.
At the end of the day, trap six, the last trap, was pulled and we finished with a haul of good ol’ Black Sea Bass. You got to love it. The time was 3:45 and it was time to pack it up and clean the labs. As a team, we boxed all of the equipment up, we scrubbed everything from top to bottom, and did it with the same enthusiasm we had had the entire trip. We got the word from James Walker, Chief Bosun on the Pisces, to get all of our gear ready to be put into cargo nets ASAP. He informed us that we were scheduled to arrive at Mayport Naval Station for a 7:00 A.M. dock time. It did not take long for all of us to amass the gear and ready it all for transport.
At some point after supper, which was crab legs, and rib eye steaks, Ryan Harris, the skilled fisherman, and I were walking the deck and realized that we were about to get wet from a storm. Thinking quickly, we moved all of the non-waterproof materials inside the wet lab. I told Ryan I would see him in the morning and headed to my stateroom. For some reason I could not get to sleep. I was exhausted but just could not shutdown. Zach, my roommate, and I talked about going home and all of the things we were going to do when we got there, for around an hour and then called it a day.
The Pisces steamed through the night and we were right on time. Grabbing a cup of coffee, I raced out to the ships observation deck so I could watch us come into the dock. It was amazing. The crew and the bridge worked flawlessly together to bring our ship, that we have called home for the last sixteen days, back dockside. My hat goes off to them. James directed everyone to get into their positions. A small rubber ball with a long lines attached was hurled by one of the men, who was on port bow of the ship, overboard and onto land. Waiting on shore, several young Navy men caught the ball and pulled the rope onto land forming a tight rope between the ship and land that any member of the Wallenda family could walk. As the onshore men placed the rope on the davit, the ship motored forward to use the rope to pull the ships aft to the dock. Upon docking, the crew of the Pisces completed our landing by connecting the massive cables that were lifted by a crane on shore. These cables allowed the ship to shut off her engines, that had been going nonstop for the last sixteen days, and run on shore power. Ah quiet at last. Just because we were tied to land, it did not mean that our jobs were over.
Off loading the scientific equipment aboard the Pisces.
We still had to move the cargo nets with all of our scientific equipment to land, and then the arduous task of loading it all into the team moving van. The task of loading the van should have taken hours but the phrase “many hands make light work” was reaffirmed as the entire scientific party jumped in and made light work of the job. Once complete, we all gathered, took our last pictures, hugged, and said our goodbyes. And just like that, I jumped in a minivan with five of the ship’s crew and Matt Wilson, the team hydrographer.
Within 20 minutes we were at the airport and all headed to our gates. My flight from Jacksonville was relatively easy, with no issues but when I arrived at O’Hare the same could not be said. I think at last count my gate was moved at least 3 times before I made my way to gate G1. Twenty minutes before flight time, I noticed that we had not boarded the plane yet. The gate attendants were scurrying around like a mouse running from my cats, and then the ominous “ding” came over the speaker. “Ahh ladies and gentlemen, we are sorry about the delay but we are experiencing some mechanical issues with plane”. “We will try to keep you informed as to the progress and hopefully get you on to your final destination quickly”. “Thank you for your understanding”. After an hour or so, we finally got the direction that we were again moving to another gate.
As we were walking to our final exiting point, I started talking to a couple of the flight attendants and asked them what had happened. Apparently, my original plane had taken a goose missile to one of the engines and it totally destroyed any chances that plane would fly again in the next several weeks. As you could imagine, the attendants said it was quite a stressful situation. I, for one, am very thankful that they changed my plane. Finally, I boarded my new plane and made my way to my seat. I could not wait to see my wife who was waiting for me at the airport. As we taxied down the runway, the pilot came on the planes intercom and informed us that she was going to try to speed up our flight time a bit. Speed up a bit? I guess. Our scheduled flight was to take 45 minutes to travel from Chicago O’Hare to Bloomington Regional Airport. Our captain did it in 25 minutes flat. Woo hoo. I am going to American Airlines to request that she trains the entire fleet. Just before landing, as if I could have scripted it, our plane flew over my hometown of Pontiac, Illinois. It was then at that moment, that I knew I was home. I could not wait to see my wife. The plane landed and we rolled to the gate. I don’t think it was 3 minutes and we were all off of the plane. I hurried out the door, ran through the terminal, and there she was. My wife was smiling and more beautiful than ever before. I had missed her and my girls so much.
I will miss my new brothers and sisters of our scientific team and ship’s crew. My students, family and friends are going to be amazed by all of the stories, pictures and videos. I am excited that all of them and others are going to be able to participate in reading the data from the real research we did on board. I could not be more thankful to NOAA for my opportunity to live my childhood dream. As I write these last sentences of my blog I am welling up with tears. For sixteen days, in July of 2013, I aboard the NOAA Ship Pisces got to be a Marine Biologist, and ocean explorer. I will never forget it.
Paul Ritter in front of the ‘Pisces’ sign
Did You Know?
I took a lot of pictures on my trip and these are what I consider my top 20 photos.
Paul Ritter in a “gumby” suitPlaying Bean Bags on the PiscesWarren Mitchell and Paul Ritter lock and load the XBTMe…. and my MoraySea turtle off the port bowPaul Ritter and Shark Sucker in the wet lab of the PiscesPaul Ritter and a 24 lb. Red Snapper in the wet lab of the PiscesPaul Ritter setting Traps on the PiscesPaul Ritter getting to know a Blue CrabPaul Ritter driving the PiscesSunset on the PiscesCatch of the day.Paul Ritter and Ryan Harris catching Bonito.Paul Ritter with a Palm WarblerAtlantic Spotted DolphinsNurse Shark caught on our Go Pro cameraPaul Ritter – Safety drill aboard the PiscesPaul Ritter and some of the many Sea Stars.Common OctopusPaul Ritter catching a Barracuda aboard the Pisces.
NOAA Teacher at Sea Paul Ritter Aboard the NOAA Ship Pisces July 16– August 1, 2013
Mission: Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey (SEFIS) Geographical area of cruise: southeastern US Atlantic Ocean waters (continental shelf and shelf-break waters ranging from Cape Hatteras, NC to Port St. Lucie, FL) Date: July 22, 2013
Weather Data from the Bridge
Science and Technology Log
Yesterday was a very exciting day. After we dropped off our first traps, the ship’s officers brought the ship to a full stop and it was time to release the CTD. What is a CTD? CTD stands for Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth. The CTD unit is an array of sensors that is lowered to just above the bottom of the ocean to take a continuous profile of the water column. Moments after the CTD reaches the bottom it is brought back to the surface and the deck hands bring it back on board the ship. From here, the scientific crew can analyze the data from the CTD to determine the water conditions for the drop area. On some expeditions, the CTD is fitted with a device that actually takes water samples at the different depths for chemical and biological analysis. This information allows the scientists to get a complete picture of the water column where the traps are set and where the fish live.
What is a CTD? CTD stands for Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth.
Another instrument that is used by the ship is the Expendable Bathythermograph or XBT. This device was used by the military for many years to measure the temperature of the water at various depths. The most interesting thing about this probe is how it is deployed.
Warren Mitchell, a fisheries biologist for NOAA’s Beaufort Laboratory, decided it would be a good idea for me to be trained firsthand to deploy this vital instrument. The first thing I had to do was put on my hardhat and safety vest and step on to the recovery deck. At that point Warren called up to the bridge to ask for permission to drop the XBT. The officers on the bridge gladly gave us permission and Warren then got me into a launching position with my feet spread apart and my elbow braced on hip. The CO then happened to walk by and asked me if I had my safety glasses on, to which I immediately said yes.
It was at this point that Warren gave me permission to launch the XBT. I was excited. I was ready. I could not wait for Warren to give me the signal. The only problem was I did not know the signal and I could not find the trigger. I did not know what to do. I was getting worried. Warren then repeated the orders “launch”. “How?” I replied. Tip the barrel forward, lean forward, he replied, and the XBT slid out of the tube into the water.
The joke was on me. Here I had been led to believe that this was going to be some grand launch something just shy of the space shuttle taking off into space. The reality was that the XBT just falls into the water. Very non-exciting for me but everyone on the boat laughed for hours. So did I. It is good to be treated like one of the family. After our final set of traps for the day, I ventured out to see what it is like to work in the acoustics lab.
Warren Mitchell NOAA Scientist gives instruction to Paul Ritter on the proper deployment of the XBT.
Personal Log
Monday 7-22-13
Nurse shark outside our chevron trap.
To this point this expedition has been so amazing. Would you believe there are 3 people aboard the NOAA Ship Pisces that live or once lived within 60 miles from my home town? Crazy I know. We have had only one medium sized squall to this point with 3 to 5 foot seas. We have brought up traps with tons of jellyfish, in which I got a nematocyst (jellyfish stinging cell) to the hand. It was not too bad but I did feel a slight burning sensation.
We have had a number of different types of starfish, all of which I have never seen. One particular trap that we sent to the ocean floor, while upon retrieval did not have any fish, but did have a secret to share. After Julie Vecchio, one of our volunteer scientists replayed the video cameras that are on the top of the trap, we discovered that a nurse shark had been trolling the area around our trap. I have seen so many amazing things. Several days ago we were hauling traps and just as we brought our trap up there was a sea turtle that came up to the boat. I snapped a couple of photos, as quick as I could and then went right back to work. It was not two minutes later and I saw a baby sea turtle the size of a fifty cent piece. Immediately, the first thing that came to my mind was thought of Crush and Squirt from Disney’s Finding Nemo talking to me.
Crush: Okay. Squirt here will now give you a rundown of proper exiting technique.
Squirt:Good afternoon “Paul”. We’re gonna have a great jump today. Okay, first crank a hard cutback as you hit the wall. There’s a screaming bottom curve, so watch out. Remember: rip it, roll it, and punch it.
Paul: Whoa! Dude! That was totally cool!
Turtle off the port bow.
Tuesday July 23, 2013
Somewhere in the middle of the night the wind picked up and so did the waves. I share a stateroom with Zach Gillum a graduate student from East Carolina University. This kid is amazing. We really have become great friends.
One of the great things about this trip is to be totally immersed in an expedition with like-minded people. We will all hang around waiting for traps, or eating dinner and start conversations about some environmental issue or ecological principle. I sure wished I lived closer to my new friends. Anyway, our stateroom window is about 4 foot above the waterline. Many times during the night, our window was under the water as a wave passed by. When we woke up, the wind and waves increased. A four to seven foot wave is enough to make many run for the toilet. So far so good for me when it comes to sea sickness.
I just hope we don’t find any bigger waves. We gathered on the aft deck as we usually do but we delayed deployment, waiting for improvement in weather conditions. The major problem we had was with larger waves comes the possibility of the traps bobbing up and down on the ocean floor. With adverse conditions on pick-up, we are also more likely to drag traps across the bottom. We set the first six traps, pulled them up and just as we had suspected not many fish. Around 1:00 P.M. Zeb Schobernd, our Lead Scientist, made the decision to head to another location. It just goes to show you that when you are at sea, you need to follow the 3 F’s. Flexibility, fortitude, and following orders.
Waiting to work.
Did You Know?
Did you know that a jelly fish’s nematocyst are like mini speargun?
These little stinging cells fire when they come in contact with the surface of and organism. Some jellyfish tentacles can contain up to 5000 or more nematocyst.
NOAA Teacher at Sea Paul Ritter Aboard the NOAA Ship Pisces July 16– August 1, 2013
Mission: Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey (SEFIS) Geographical area of cruise: southeastern US Atlantic Ocean waters (continental shelf and shelf-break waters ranging from Cape Hatteras, NC to Port St. Lucie, FL) Date: July 20, 2013
Weather Data from the Bridge
Science and Technology Log
Each day the fish traps aboard the NOAA Ship Pisces are baited and prepared with cameras, and sent to the ocean floor where they must sit for ninety minutes. It is necessary to keep this time consistent for all locations and traps so we can compare apples to apples. We call this a “control variable”. The particular parameter that someone measures that is a constant and non-changing point of comparison in an experiment or scientific observation is a controlled variable for consistency.
After being on the bottom for the time allotted, the officers on the bridge drive the ship back to the number one trap and drives alongside the trap’s buoys. Approximately, half way down the ship is the side sampling deck. From the side sampling station, approximately halfway down the ship, we take a grappling tied to a long rope and hurl it over the side, aiming between the two buoys. It is important that we hit it on the first attempt.
If we miss, the ship has to take vital time to maneuver around to make another attempt at the buoys. Have we missed? Honestly, yes but only a couple of times. If we have done our job correctly, we pull in the grappling hook and with it the buoys, and rope. The buoys are then unhooked from the rope and the rope is threaded into a pot hauler, which is a large tapered wheel that grabs onto the rope without slipping. The pot hauler then hydraulically pulls the rope and trap up to the surface. Once at the surface, another hook and winch is connected to the trap and the entire rig is pulled up on the side sampling deck. It is at this time that our team attacks the trap by taking off the cameras and unloading its cargo of fish. If we have fish, they are taken to the wet lab and all the measurements are taken. Once empty, the trap is carried to the main aft deck and prepared for the next round of trapping. It really is a lot of heavy work but it is all worth it to understand the ecology of our ocean reefs.
Personal Log
Patrick and I Working on a Red Snapper
7-20-13
Today started around 12:30 am. It was not something that I intended to do. The night before we went to bed around 10:00 pm. I was sore and very tired from the long and hard day we had fishing. For some reason I woke up and looked out the window and saw that it was very bright outside. I thought it was daybreak and it was time to get up. I looked at my clock and it said it was 12:30. But that could not be. It was too light outside for just pass midnight. I actually thought my clock was broke so I fired up my computer to check the time. Sure enough, it was 12:30.
The moon was so bright and reflecting off of the water in a way that the light was coming right into my room. Crazy. After the confusion, I finally made it back to sleep. Around 5:30 my internal alarm clock went off. I actually never need an alarm clock to wake up, ever. For some reason I always have been able to just think about when I want to get up and I do. Anyway, I got up, brushed my teeth and headed to work.
Our Team in the Wet Lab
At 6:15, I met up with my brothers and sisters of the trap setting team which consists of Doug Devries – NOAA Scientist; Patrick Raley – NOAA Scientist; Jenny Ragland – NOAA Scientist; Julie Vecchio – volunteer Scientist; Zach Gillum – graduate student / Scientist, and me – the new guy scientist. Have you ever watched Star Trek? Usually each show’s scientific mission consists of Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Bones, Lt. Uhura, who are all in one color uniform, and a new guy who is in the red shirt. The mission goes something like this. Captain Kirk will say “Mr. Spock go check out the nondescript rock. Bones see if you can get some readings on that green flower over there, Uhura please open up a channel to the ship, and New Guy, go check out that purple pulsating blob over next to the cliff.” I really hope these guys don’t watch Star Trek…..
To be completely honest, it is nothing like Star Trek at all. Our team is amazing. I am very humble that they have accepted me into their family. They are so fun to be around and I could not be more thankful for their friendship and guidance. Each of us has to play many vital roles in the mission. This expedition would not work if we did not have each other to rely on. I don’t want to let my teammates down, and I will do anything to make sure that does not happen.
Anyway, back to the traps….. We set our first set of traps of the day and ninety minutes later we discovered that our return was not very good. Our second set of traps, on the other hand, were much better and netted many fish. Some of the fish included Black Sea Bass, Grey Trigger, Tomtate, White Grunt, and one of the most desirable fish on the market, the Red Snapper. Red Snapper is a fish that can grow upwards of 40 lbs. and live as long as 50 years if it can escape being caught. This amazingly beautiful red fish has had much pressure from commercial and sport fishermen and as a result their numbers have dwindled. After speaking with Zeb Schobernd, our mission’s Chief Scientist, it is his hope that due to strict regulation of the harvest of the species, we will see an increase of the population. The data we are collecting will help develop a better survey for reef fish populations in the future, especially grouper and red snapper.. Lunch was at 11:00 and what a lunch it was. Crab legs, and prime rib. Man, the crew of the Pisces eats very well and I am thankful. My wife is a great cook, and I would say that the ship’s chief steward is a close second. After lunch, we quickly we set our third series of traps and were able to increase our catch exponentially. Dinner consisted of Jamaican jerk chicken, pork roast, green beans, lettuce salad, and cheese cake. After dinner I took a little time to visit the team in the acoustics lab. The acoustics lab is responsible for mapping out the ocean floor to determine where we should put traps out the next day. I will probably touch more on them in my next blog.
Swabbing the deck
Did you know?
Did you know that NOAA ships do not just stay in one particular location of the world?
The Pisces has sailed from Canada, to the Gulf of Mexico, and down to Venezuela and back. Not to mention the Pisces is one of the fastest ships in the NOAA fleet capable of reaching speeds greater than 17 knots with a following current.
