August 11, 2012 Know the Maps

Maps for almost everything-

Knowing where you are, where you have been, and where you are going are very important on the Healy. The Coast Guard needs the information for navigation; the scientists need the information for documentation. Where are the answers? Satellite information and sensors on the ship are constantly inputting data into mapping programs. These mapping programs are then accessible to anyone on the ship by computer.

Follow the ship track's from Seattle to the Bering Strait

On the first map, the ship’s track is shown in red. The ship started in Seattle, Washington; travel to Dutch; and now is on her way to the Bering Strait. The brown line is called the International Date Line which also divides the Russian and US waters. We will cross over the line when we travel in between the two island, Big Diomede in Russian waters and Little Diomede in U.S. waters. When we are in Russian waters it will be tomorrow and when we are in US waters it will be today. Can you imagine junping into the future and then back into the past all within an hour?

Can you see the deep water hole next to Big Diomede? Little and Big Diomede Islands are in green

Ship map with depths in fathoms, not meters. What is a fathom? 1 fathom = 1.8 meters

Other maps give the scientist current data about the salinity, salt level, of the water and the chlorophyll or plant life in the water. As we traveled to the Bering Strait, the salinity changed from red (salty) to green (less salty) on the ships track. What do you think caused the salinity to change? Hint: If fresh water is added to the Bering Sea, then the salinity will go down. Send your answers to Ask the Team.

Salinity data from the Healy

The darker blue indicates more phytoplankton, microscopic plant life

Salinity Answer

Congratulations to Jordan from Jenifer Elementary in Waldorf, MD, for the definition of the word desalinate -- to remove salt.