survival suit – Page 7 – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

August 29, 2006March 26, 2021

Karen Meyers & Alexa Carey, August 29, 2006

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Karen Meyers & Alexa Carey
Onboard NOAA Ship Albatross IV
August 15 – September 1, 2006

Mission: Ecosystem Monitoring
Geographical Area: Northeast U.S.
Date: August 29, 2006

Weather Data from Bridge
Visibility: <1 nautical mile
Wind direction: ^o
Wind speed: 20-25 kts
Sea wave height: 2-3’
Swell wave height: 4-6’
Seawater temperature: 14 C
Sea Level Pressure: 1015.2 mb
Cloud cover: 8/8

The rain has stopped but it’s a very foggy day here in the Gulf of Maine – not unusual for this area, according to the officers. I visited the bridge early this morning before dawn and Acting XO Jason Appler mentioned the “cabin fever” that can result from sailing through fog for days on end. We were hoping to see the beautiful coast of Maine but we may pass without ever catching a glimpse if this fog keeps up.

On the second station of our watch, in addition to the bongos, we used another plankton net which extends from a rectangular frame. It’s called a neuston net and it’s towed right at the surface, partly in and partly out of the water. The object of this tow is to catch lobster larvae which, according to Jerry, are often found clinging to seaweed drifting at the surface. We’re doing this sampling for a student who is considering studying the distribution of lobster larvae for a thesis.

Jerry reminded me of two terms I learned at some point in the past but had forgotten. Meroplankton are animals that are residents of the plankton for only part of their lives, e.g., larvae of fish, crustaceans, and other animals. Holoplankton is made up of jellyfish, copepods, chaetognaths, ctenophores, salps, larvaceans, and other animals that spend their entire lives in the plankton.

Jerry has a copy of the book The Open Sea by Sir Alister Hardy, a classic work of biological oceanography. As only one example of his many marine expeditions, Hardy served as Chief Zoologist on the R.R.S. Discovery when it voyaged to Antarctica in the 1920’s. The first half of the book is devoted to plankton and the second half to fish and fisheries. Both parts contain a number of his beautiful watercolors of the animals discussed, painted from freshly caught specimens and all the more remarkable for the fact that they were done on a rocking ship!

Personal Log – Karen Meyers

The seas got pretty bouncy this evening. I had been feeling pretty cocky about my “sea legs” but was getting a little uneasy. However, I did cope without any problems. I don’t really understand seasickness and I get the feeling no one else does either. I wonder how often and for how long one has to be at sea before their sea legs become permanent.

Personal Log – Alexa Carey

It’s like riding a bucking bronco out here on the ocean. Walking, by itself, is forcing me to improve my coordination. I love it. I’m only worried about how I’ll be on land…last time I was swaying back and forth for a few hours. I think Karen got quite a kick out of that.

We’re still taking pictures for the contest. It’s difficult being creative, especially because we’re limited on what we have for resources. We’ve got one picture that I hope turns out well. One of Tracy’s good friends sent her the picture of the Brady Bunch. I’ve been trying to work the picture so that our shift’s faces are in place of the original cast. The only one that truly looks in place is Wes, he actually looks natural! We’re having such a great time!

We all climbed into our survival suits again and took pictures on the stairs. Believe me when I say that sitting on the stairs in those “Gumby” suits, is a very difficult task. Wes was holding all of us up. Tracy had a hold of the side and I was propped up in between them. Alicea was very ready to jump forward in case we were to all start the journey downstairs a bit too quickly. I’m still having an amazing time.

July 24, 2006March 26, 2021

Jacquelyn Hams, July 24, 2006

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jacquelyn Hams
Onboard NOAA Ship Rainier
July 24 – August 11, 2006

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: Shumagin Islands, Alaska
Date: July 24, 2006

Science and Technology Log

The RAINIER will depart today at 1600 for the Shumagin Islands. This morning all visitors and new personnel onboard were given a safety orientation by Kenneth Keys, Deck Utilityman. I decide to put on my sea sick patch after breakfast just in case the seas get rough.

One of the most important orders of business for the day was to receive Survival Suits and Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) from Ken. In addition, Ken issued hard hats and life jackets. I must admit, the idea of having to wear a Survival Suit was sobering. The suit was so tight that I could barely breathe. But, as Ken pointed out, the idea was to stay alive and not swallow salt water. Visitors and new personnel were also required to view the videocassettes listed below:

“Right to Know” – about hazardous waste materials and proper handling
“Asbestos Awareness” – about the proper handling and identification of asbestos
“OCENCO EEBD” – Emergency Escape Breathing Devices used aboard the RAINIER.

TAS Jacquelyn Hams in full survival suit

At 1300, the TAS met with the Surveying Department to go over surveying techniques and a schedule for this leg. Surveying crew members recommended that I read “Coast Pilot #9, part of a NOAA reference for sailors. Part of the NOAA mission is to update the Coast Pilot book series to maintain accuracy. At 1600 the RAINIER departed Kodiak Island.

1600 Readings Weather Data
Weather: CL (cloudy) F (fog)
Barometer: 992 mB
Visibility: 4 nm (nautical miles)
Wind: Light
Sea Wave height: 8.9 ft
Temperature in degrees C: 12.8
Wet Bulb T: 11.7 degrees C
Dry Bulb T: 12.8 degrees C
Speed: AIRS on departure
Speed at 1700: 4 knots

The RAINIER’s course allowed me to see more spectacular scenery and the marine wildlife was abundant. We saw lots of otters and whales. When I retired for bed, the RAINIER was cruising in Kupreanof Strait. This has been a special day and the seas have been a lot calmer than anticipated.

Personal Log

The crewmembers of the RAINIER are very interesting and come from a variety of backgrounds. Many of them are on second and third careers and have interesting stories to tell. I am particularly struck by how young the officers look! This is a sure sign that I am getting old.

TAS Jacquelyn Hams attempting to remove survival suit

Megan McGovern, NOAA Ship Gary Streeter, RAINIER

Gary Streeter, RAINIER Engineering Technician examines the laptop for TAS Jacquelyn Hams

June 20, 2006March 19, 2021

Jessica Schwarz, June 20, 2006

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jessica Schwarz
Onboard NOAA Ship Rainier
June 19 – July 1, 2006

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: Alaska
Date: June 20, 2006

The first boat launching of the day off NOAA ship, RAINIER. RA4 is being lowered into Kanga Bay for a full day of hydrographic surveying!

Science and Technology Log

Today I awoke for my first day in Kanga Bay. The bay was absolutely beautiful this morning, looking perfectly still and glassy. The Captain, CDR Guy Noll, said it’s not normally this clear. I was absolutely awe-struck by the scenery! The first thing I did was head to the fantail for muster with the crew involved in launching the hydrographic survey boats off the ship. The fantail is the area outside in the very back of the ship. Muster was led by the Captain and FOO, Field Operations Officer. They informed the crew of potential weather changes for the day’s mission that may affect the survey boats. It was incredible to watch the boats being launched from the ship. A large crane lifted each boat up and over the side of the ship and into the ocean. After the survey boats were launched two additional skiffs were launched as rescue boats, in case of an emergency. The first skiff lowered weighs up to 3,000 lbs, with the second skiff lowered, weighing 2,400 lbs. The Captain said the rescue skiff can travel up to a speed of 45 knots (nautical mile/hour).

The 3,000lb skiff is being lifted up and over one of the survey boats off of NOAA ship RAINIER. The skiff will serve as a rescue boat in case of an emergency while the survey boats are collecting data near the bay.

Today survey boats RA4 and RA5 were launched from the ship. RA stands for the RAINIER. Ben, the ships FOO, explained to me the difference between the two survey boats being launched. RA4 is a Reson 8125. It uses a multi-beam sonar system that covers an area of 120° using 240 individual beams to collect sonar data. This gives the RA4 the ability to collect very high resolution data. RA5 is a Reson 8101, and is more of an all purpose survey boat Ben mentioned. He said this boat does not have the high resolution capabilities that the RA4 has because it has around 150° of coverage using only 101 individual beams to collect sonar data. Tomorrow I will be going out on a survey and will have a much better understanding of how the data is actually collected and processed. While the survey boats were out today, I was spending my time on the NOAA ship getting administrative things taken care of. Once most of that was finished I made my way to the bridge to ask a few questions about the navigating process. Olivia, the Officer on Duty, or OOD was very helpful in answering some of my questions and then once she needed to leave the bridge, Jonathon one of the ship’s Abs, explained how to get a radar fix.

As I mentioned in my last log, the ship’s course is already plotted prior to departure by the Navigation Officer. He plotted the course on a chart of the Sitka area on down to the Islet Passage and Kanga Bay where the ship is anchored now. Jonathon was on the bridge today collecting radar data to be sure the ship wasn’t shifting too much, constantly confirming that the anchor is effectively keeping the ship in place. A reading is taken every 30 minutes. You would never know it while being on board, or at least I didn’t notice, but the ship had rotated 300° on the anchor and then swung back again.

Teacher at Sea, Jessica Schwarz into her immersion suit after an abandon ship drill. “Gumby suit” was keeping Jessica Schwarz very warm for the moment!

Jonathon showed me how to get what you call a radar fix. A radar fix is basically used to find the exact position of the ship. I observed Olivia, one of the officers doing this in the bridge while we were underway yesterday. Although the officers do their best to remain on the plotted course line, there are other factors that will cause the boat to get off the line. Current is one of them. Readings of three points of land, the bearing as well as the range, are taken from the radar screen. Points of land are simply points from the land that are distinctive enough to use to plot the position of the ship using the chart. Once the three points are taken with the bearings (angle to the point) and range (distance to the point) recorded, they are brought over to the chart where a tool called a divider is used so plot the three angles. The point at which those three angles intersect is the exact position of the ship. This can then be compared to the line already plotted to mark the ship’s course. The crew will then have an idea of the ships cross track error. Cross track error is how far the ship is off the plotted course line. Whew.

Personal Log

I have been asking a million questions, picking the brains of the crew. Everyone has been so giving of their time to explain things to me on the ship! Things can be complicated on the RAINIER. There is just so much to learn!! Something that was particularly fun about today was the abandon ship drill. This was only something I would consider fun because I got to put on my immersion suit (or Gumby suit, as I heard it called today). The immersion suit would be used to keep warm in the water if we all needed to abandon ship. I had fun trying it on. The XO had to help me get it on; these things are not that easy to get into. I tried really hard to make the gloves of the suit shake for a picture, but it wasn’t easy! I grabbed extra blankets for a warmer nights sleep tonight. The ship can feel drafty in my stateroom. I’m looking forward to a long day of surveying!!! I’m so excited to share!

Calling All Middle Schoolers–We Need Help Answering a Few Questions!

These questions come straight from the RAINIER’s Captain:

What is a nautical mile? How is it different from a mile on land? How would I convert a nautical mile into miles/hour?

Shaka Hawaii! Jessica Schwarz sends aloha to her home on the Big Island while wearing her Gumby suit onboard the NOAA ship RAINIER.

May 9, 2006March 18, 2021

Kazu Kauinana, May 9, 2006

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kazu Kauinana
Onboard NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette
May 9 – 23, 2006

Mission: Fisheries Survey
Geographical Area: Hawaiian Islands
Date: May 9, 2006

Weather Data from Bridge
Latitude: 22, 33.4n
Longitude: 162, 06.2W
Visibility: 10
Wind direction: 070
Wind speed: 21 kts.
Sea wave heights: 2-4
Swell heights: 4-6
Seawater temperature: 24.8
Sea level pressure: 1020.4
Cloud cover: 4/8 Cumulus, Altocumulus

Science and Technology Log

Yesterday was primarily orientation and familiarizing myself with the ship, staff, and scientists. It was so interesting to talk to the scientists and discover that the main motivation for their chosen profession was the same as that of artists: Passion! Most of them had an early interest in animals or plants and were now fulfilling a life-long dream. In spite of all of the sacrifices (money, family, material possessions) they love what they do and consider themselves lucky to be doing it.

Part of the day was spent on a cetacean watch, or marine mammal search, from the flying bridge. We used two Fujinan, 25×150, 4-mile range, light gathering, “Big-Eye” binoculars to methodically scan 180 degrees in front of the ship. Ironically, a mother and baby calf Humpback whale surfaced almost directly in front of the ship. That was the only sighting, mostly due to choppy wave conditions. I have to tell you that methodically scanning the ocean all day on a boat that is pitching and rolling can be very tedious, but very ZEN.

I also witnessed an XBT (Expendable Bathymetry Thermalgraph), a foot-long torpedo attached directly to the ship’s computer by a thin, hardly visible copper wire, dropped 460 meters. It sends back the temperature data to the ship’s computer and then is released, thus the name, “expendable.” I asked the scientist conducting the test if there had been any significant temperature changes during the past 10 years but that information was not available to her.

Today was a repeat of yesterday’s data gathering except for a CDT (conductivity, depth, temperature and oxygen) cast. The “fish” CTD, or data sampling device, is hoisted with a crane over the side of the ship and submerged to a depth of 500 meters. I found that the most interesting information taken was the chlorophyll count. There was a dramatic increase spike at 100-200 meters, and then a dramatic drop to about zero. Chlorophyll is the beginning of the food chain.

Personal Log

A large part of the day on a research vessel like this deals with the practical everyday functioning of the voyage. Today we had a fire drill, which was very straightforward and required that we all meet on the escape boat deck. We also had an abandon ship exercise, and we all gathered on the same deck next to our prospective escape boats with our life vests and immersion suits. We tried on our one-piece, head-to-toe, neoprene suits and got a good laugh because we looked like bright orange GUMBYS. Actually, we felt a sense of relief mixed with anxiety that if we had to use them that we would be prepared.