NWS0003
I've been tracking the course of the Healy since I read about SAILWX.COM (ship location information) on one of your blogs.
I have noted that several times during your cruise that the Healy and a ship with the call sign of NWS0003 have been in close proximity to each other. On 2-3 occasions the ships appeared to be at exactly the same coordinates.
Is the NWS003 another research vessel? If so, what is their mission and how does it relate to the BEST studies?
I know that today is your last day aboard the Healy. I understand if you are too busy to reply to this. It has been fun reading your journal articles and viewing the photo galleries. Will you continue to make journal entries after you leave?
Thanks,
CJ
Hi CJ,
I will get a diffinative for you, yes there are NOAA vessels in the Area, the Oscar Dyson, and the Miller Freeman, I am not sure if it is eaither of those or another vessel. We have seen a lot of fishing vessels, big ones, so it might be a commercial fishing boat.
Give me a little time and I will find out for sure!
Thanks for following along!
Jillian
This question had me stumped for a while, but I have finally determined that NWS0003 is also reporting the position of the Healy, delayed by some undetermined time lag. The reports are generated by the National Weather Service (hence NWS) "computer automated ship observation" system. More at: http://shipobs.arh.noaa.gov/ . The NWS reporting is more frequent than that coming directly from Healy; NWS posts hourly, while Healy is reporting every 3 hours at best.
If you're still monitoring Healy, you will observe that she has now been joined by the CCG Ship Louis S. St. Laurent. The US and Canada are conducting joint geophysical programs in the Beaufort Sea for the purposes of defining the two countries extended shelf limits. Further information is at: http://continentalshelf.gov/missions.html
Cheers
Jon Childs
US Geological Survey
Forgot to mention that if you're following the Healy's progress, you might be interested in seeing the "view from the bridge" (not Arthur Miller's). The Healy posts a Web cam picture hourly from the eagle's nest, or "aloftcon" in modern parlance, at: http://mgds.ldeo.columbia.edu/healy/reports/aloftcon/2009/
Weather has been pretty bleak lately, but there can be beautiful sunny days in the ice. Reports from the ships are that the ice front has not retreated nearly as much as last year at this time, and that more multi-year ice is being encountered.
Cheers
Jon Childs
US Geological Survey
I wondered about that myself. I doubt if it is a Coast Guard boat. I think NOAA has some ships doing research up there, but Jillian may know if NWS0003 is NOAA.