Tag: teacher at sea

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Anne Mortimer: Life at Sea, July 5, 2011

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Anne Mortimer
Onboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson
July 4 — 22, 2011

Mission: Pollock Survey
Geographical area of cruise: Gulf of Alaska
Date: Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Weather data from the bridge
Air Temperature: 8.8 C
Sea Temperature: 9.3 C
Wind Speed: 16.42 knots
Wind Direction: 210.11 degrees
Barometric Pressure: 1018.31 mbar

Personal Log
We’ve been at sea for almost 24 hours now, and so far, it’s been smooth sailing. We’re headed southwest to the area where the last leg of the cruise left off, which means lots of sailing and no trawling yet. Yesterday, before the ship left port, we participated in a  man-over-board drill and fire drill. These drills are required,  and we are also required to don the life suit for practice.

Anne Moritmer in life suit
Here I am, donning the life-suit.

My shift will be from 4pm to 4am, so I’m trying to adjust myself to that schedule, which last night led me to the bridge. The bridge is where the Commanding Officer and others navigate the ship and control several of the fishing operations. The bridge has windows all around, so even at 11pm, when the sun is close to setting it is still filled with daylight. Yesterday evening, I spent most of my time on the bridge watching Humpback whales with binoculars. Then, just as the sun was presenting a spectacular sunset, we saw multiple whale flukes and spouts on the horizon in the glow of the sun’s rays.

Humpbacks, July 4
We had a spectacular July 4th show at sunset from Humpback whales. Photo by Paul Walline, NOAA scientist.


Species list at Sea (biggest to smallest!):
Humpback whale
Sea lion
Black-footed Albatross
Northern Fullmar
Petrel
Tufted Puffin

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Cathrine Fox: Issue Two: NOAA?

NOAA TEACHER AT SEA
CATHRINE PRENOT FOX
ONBOARD NOAA SHIP OSCAR DYSON
JULY 24 – AUGUST 14, 2011

Personal Log
As my date of departure nears, I have been having a lot of conversations about what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is, what I will be doing in Alaska, and what a Teacher at Sea does. The best way to answer your questions is through another cartoon.

Adventures in a Blue World, Issue 2
Adventures in a Blue World, Issue 2

The official title of my mission is “NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center for their Walleye Pollock Survey aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson.” (Say that ten times fast.) The Teacher at Sea goals also align with some of NOAA’s Enterprise Objectives: 1) An engaged and educated public with an improved capacity to make scientifically informed environmental decisions; and 2) Diverse and constantly evolving capabilities in NOAA’s workforce.

To read more about NOAA, check out their website: http://www.noaa.gov/ A peruse through just the headlines will teach you about ‘elusive basking sharks,’ why evenings are getting warmer, what to expect for solar flares in 2013 (a lot!) and how NOAA satellites are tracking wildfires across the west. Pretty interesting.

In the meantime, I am packing up for the trip of a lifetime: warm layers, my trusty binocs, and, of course, some anti-seasickness precautions, which I’ll be discussing in my next cartoon.

Until our next adventure,
Cat

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Kathleen Harrison: Introduction: Starting in Hampton, Virginia…

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kathleen Harrison
Aboard NOAA Ship  Oscar Dyson
  July 4 — 22, 2011

Location:  Gulf of Alaska
Mission:  Walleye Pollock Survey

June 2011 Field Trip
Here I am with my IB Biology students, exploring a mud flat that is part of a barrier island of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Personal Log
In February, I found out that I was selected to be a Teacher at Sea.  This was very exciting at the time, but it seemed a bit unreal.  By the end of March, I completed the online training, had several more e-mails from the Teacher at Sea program, and was coming to the realization that I actually would be going to sea with NOAA.

Around the first of May, I learned that I would be participating in the Walleye Pollock Survey, in the Gulf of Alaska, for 3 weeks in July.  Teaching in Hampton, and living in Virginia Beach, I am used to very hot summers, with plenty of sunshine.  It took me a few days to get used to the idea of being cold in July.  Now, one day before I fly to Kodiak, I am so excited, I doubt that I will sleep much tonight.  I don’t care what the weather is.  I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, and will gladly count every pollock that comes up in the net.

On July 3, I will board the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson in the port of Kodiak, Alaska.  You can learn more about the Oscar Dyson here:    http://www.moc.noaa.gov/od/    I am thrilled to have the chance to participate in real-world research with NOAA, and learn more about marine science careers.   Already, I have been asked to share what I learn with a group of students at my school this fall.  My International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology students will be reading these posts for their summer homework, and choosing an animal to research.   I hope that you will continue to follow my exciting adventures over the next few weeks, as I figure out what a pollock looks like, and identify other Gulf of Alaska marine animals.

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Tammy Orilio, That’s all, folks!!, July 2, 2011

NOAA Teacher at Sea: Tammy Orilio
NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson
Mission: Pollock Survey
Geographical Area of Cruise: Gulf of Alaska
Date: 2 July 2011

Personal Log:

Well, my trip has finally come to a close. It’s been an eventful 3 weeks and a great experience! I’d like to extend a big THANK YOU to everyone involved with NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program, which allowed me to participate in this wonderful excursion. I learned so much while on this trip, and I cannot wait to be able to use the information in my future classes. I almost said I couldn’t wait for school to start back up, but that’s not quite right- I’m just starting my summer vacation!!

Secondly, I’d like to thank the crew on the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson, and the scientists on this leg of the trip, for letting me come aboard and participate in this research survey. The time on board, whether working or waiting for fish, will stay with me forever!
Jason- thanks for being so easy to work with! I’m glad we were the “guinea pigs” for working on our logs together- I think it worked well! I’m glad I didn’t ruin the picture you bought by hitting that annoying child on the plane with it!

I hope you all enjoyed reading my blog, and I want to thank you for reading it! It feels great when I see my “Total Pageviews” going up and up 🙂 Dana Steel, thanks for answering all of my questions- correctly!!

Here are some last photos of the trip- I stole them from Jason’s blog (thanks!), and he got them from Paul, our Chief Scientist on the trip. This is what you get when you have a good camera. Thanks again, everyone!!






Fog/clouds in the Gulf of Alaska?? Who ever heard of such a thing?!?!
Fog/clouds in the Gulf of Alaska?? Who ever heard of such a thing?!?!
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Cathrine Fox: Pre-trip Pondering, June 29, 2011

Pre-trip Pondering

NOAA TEACHER AT SEA
CATHRINE PRENOT FOX
ONBOARD NOAA SHIP OSCAR DYSON
JULY 24 – AUGUST 14, 2011
 
Personal Log
I will be traveling in a few short weeks to join the crew of the NOAA ship the Oscar Dyson in the Gulf of Alaska.  During the voyage, I will be keeping this log up to date and documenting my “adventures” with a cartoon series as well.
I hope that you will follow along, ask lots of questions, and travel with me digitally.
Until our next adventure, Cat