Archive for the 'Rachael Beale' Category
10 days down, 40 to go!
This is the 10th day of sampling on board the James Cook on the 19th Atlantic Meridional Transect cruise, on our way towards Chile, although that is still a huge distance away! Today we have sampled from the 25th, 26th and 27th CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) casts, the first two pre-dawn and the third at solar noon.
Long line becomes wrapped around fish
This is my first AMT cruise and my first where a daily routine is quickly established (usually the cruises I have experienced have much more chaotic sampling routines!). I am measuring the concentration of Oxygenated Volatile Organic Compounds (OVOCs) in both the atmosphere and sea water (methanol and acetone for example). My first sampling time is the 0530 cast and it takes me until around midday to analyse 11 water samples from various depths, just in time for the next cast! It’s not always the most pleasant experience to keep dragging yourself up at that time in the morning but being at sea does provide glimpses of some of the most stunning sun rises you’ll ever experience.
Typical sunrise at sea
This morning we were caught in heavy rain – not good for those of us expecting to soak up some sun during breaks!! Also not good for those of us working in containers that may have been prone to the odd leak! These problems are quickly sorted by the team of men (Chris, Dougal, Neil & Paul) on board from National Marine Facilities (NMF) who amazingly seem to be able to fix anything (Gas Chromatographs, air con, leaking windows, making benches, moving fume hoods and a dodgy door handle that I’ve broken on several occasions – and that’s just me!) I’ve noticed that they start to run in the other direction when they see me now!
Neil from National Marine Facilities fixing the air-con unit
Posted by: Kelly-Marie Davidson on Friday, 23rd Oct, 2009