12 February 2014 Deck Duty

Cold and busy but an incredible view!

We are now well underway with the science. Seismologists are communicating with the geologists to locate the optimum tests sites. The aquatic biologists are analyzing their plankton samples, and the physical oceanographers are deploying UCTD's and CTDA research tool that is submerged in the water to measure conductivity (salinity), temperature, and depth.'s to gather information about the waters conductivity, temperature and depth. Have you figure out why they are called CTDA research tool that is submerged in the water to measure conductivity (salinity), temperature, and depth.'s now?

The dry lab which contains all the computers that analyze the data is like mission control during the launching of a spaceship. It is tedious work in the dry lab and you really need to be able to multi task, making sure all activities are running smoothly.

To be honest my forte is not computers. Heck I teach Wilderness Studies when I'm not In Antarctica. That is why I like deck duty. And why do I like deck duty? I have three reasons. I am outside, I can help problem solve while working with my hands and then there is the view.

Deck duty was described by Dan Powers (one of the hard working Marine Technicians) as a great opportunity for problem solving. With so much science to be done on this expedition there are a lot of problems to solve. Each deployment of a specific piece science experiment must be set up, tested and run. As with anything everything is tested and retested, but occasionally there are glitches. As we worked on the hydraulics for the Kasten core sampling operations, we were able to work with our hands and our minds. Oh yeah did I mention the view.