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Daily Update
Calendar
Dispatch 27 - September 27, 2004
By C. A. Linder
Weather conditions: Mostly cloudy skies, snow showers, 35-40 kt winds gusting to 50 kts, 12-16 ft seas, air temperature 34°F
Hove To
My hopes were high when I heard the announcement for the small boat brief on the bridge this morning. The small boat brief always precedes a mooring recovery, so I assumed that the weather was cooperating. I stumbled around in the near darkness of my cabin, grabbing cameras and warm clothes. As I made my way down to the fantail, I was buffeted by a hard wind the whole way. Waves were surging around the ship in the blue predawn light... The conditions did not look promising. When I arrived in the main lab, Seth's CTD watch team was getting ready for work. The Captain and Chief Scientist had decided to postpone the mooring recovery, and we were gearing up for a CTD section instead. It was a reminder of how we were at the mercy of the elements.
The winds slowly increased in strength
through the day, gusting at times over 50 knots. That's comparable
to the force you would feel if you were to stick your head out of
the window of your car while driving down the highway. Sleet and hard,
pellet-like snow came and went throughout the day, making conditions
for CTD operations even more difficult. By noon, waves were washing
over the weather decks on the aft (rear) part of the ship. When
you consider that the ship's freeboard (distance from the sea surface
to the deck) is over fifteen feet, then you can get an idea of how
tall these waves were. After a handful of CTD
casts, all science operations were suspended while we ride out
the storm. We were officially "hove to."
Some of the science party members, like Leopoldo
Llinas and Aaron Silverman, were
busy packing up samples and scientific gear today. After four weeks
on our floating lab and home, it's a difficult chore to dismantle
and store all of the equipment. Over the next few days more and more
of the main lab equipment will vanish into the massive storage holds
below decks.
Tom and Seth are anxiously watching the forecast. By Wednesday afternoon,
we will begin our transit to Nome. If the weather conditions don't
improve by then, we could be leaving without their central channel
mooring. The forecast for the next few days is mixed. The winds are
expected to maintain strength through Tuesday, but may break by Wednesday
morning. That would be our last window of opportunity. We are fortunate
to have the skills of trained weather forecasters aboard the ship.
In addition to their duties assisting science operations, Marine Science
Technician Chief Don Snider and Petty Officers Daniel Gaona and Josh
Robinson also share forecasting duties. They use a combination of
internet resources and satellite images captured with the ship's Terascan
weather system. Says Chief Snider "forecasting has come a long way...
With our satellite receiver and internet capability, we have resources
that are comparable to any shore-based station."
As our expedition nears completion, our days are getting shorter and
shorter. When we started this cruise, we were enjoying over sixteen
and half hours of sunlight. By the time we arrive in Nome we will
have lost almost six hours of daylight. The sunny days we enjoyed
at the start of September have been replaced by daily snow squalls
and strong winds. We are feeling the arctic seasonal transition firsthand.
Autumn is quickly giving way to winter.
This is the last week I will be answering questions from students
and the public. We are due to disembark the Healy on Friday morning.
Send your last-minute questions to arcticedge@whoi.edu.
Thanks for all of the great questions so far.
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Traducido al Español por
Celia
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Exhaustos
Mis esperanzas aumentaron cuando esta mañana escuche en el Puente el comunicado de la zodiac. La zodiac siempre precede a la recogida del mooring, y asumí que el tiempo era favorable. Me tropece en mi oscuro camarote mientras cogía las cámaras y ropa para abrigarme. Cuando bajaba las escaleras hacia la popa fui abofeteado por una ráfaga de viento. Las olas sobrepasaban el barco al navegar. Las condiciones no parecian mejorar. Cuando llegue al laboratorio principal, el equipo de Seth no había trabajado esa noche. El capitán y el jefe de campaña habían decidido postponer la recogida del mooring y nos dirigíamos a la nueva sección de CTD. Todo esto nos rcordaba que nos encontrábamos a la merced de los elementos.
El viento incrementó lentamente en el
transcurso del dia, superando en algunos momentos los 50 nudos. Esto
es comparable a la fuerza que se siente cuando se saca la cabeza por
la ventanilla de un coche mientras esta en marcha. La nieve iba y
venia a lo largo del dia, lo que hacia el trabajo de las CTD muy difícil.
Además las olas cubrían casi todas las
cubiertas del barco. Cuando se considera que la distancia desde el
agua a la cubierta es de 15 pies, se puede hacer una idea del tamaño
de las olas. Después de las CTD todas
las operaciones del barco fueron suspendidas mientras atravesábamos
la tormenta. Nosotros estabamos oficialmente "exhaustos."
Algunos miembros del equipo cientifico como Leopoldo
Llinas y Aaron Silverman, estuvieron
ocupados empaquetando sus materials y muestras. Después de cuatro
semanas en nuestro laoratorio y hogar, es dificil desmantelar y empaquetar
todo.
Tom y Seth estan ansiosos por conocer el pronóstico meteorológico. El miércoles por la tarde comenzaremos el transecto hacia Nome. Parece que tendremos que volver sin el último mooring. El pronóstico predice viento para el martes, aunque cesará el miercoles por la mañana, y esta seria nuestra ultima oportunidad para recogerlo. En el barco disponemos de un pronostico meteorologico exhaustivo. Los tecnicos cientificos de la tripulacion, el jefe Don Snider y los oficiales Daniel Gaona y Josh Robinson conbinan la informacion de las imagines de satélite capturadas por la estacion meteorologica Terascan del barco, con informacion procedente de internet.
Dice el jefe Snider “predecir el tiempo ha avanzado mucho… con nuestra informacion de los satellites e internet, tenemos recursos comparbles con cualquier estacion en tierra de nuestra nacion”
A medida que nuestra campaña se acaba, los dias se hacen muy cortos. Cuando comenzamos esta campaña disfrutábamos de mas de dieciseis horas y media de luz. Cuando lleguemos a Nome habremos perdido casi seis horas de luz. Los soleados dias del principio han sido reemplazados por nieve y fuertes vientos. Nosotros estamos sintiendo el cambio de estacion en el Artico. El otoño se esta llendo para dar paso al otono.
Esta es la ultima semana que estare respondiendo preguntas de los
estudiantes y del publico. Desembarcaremos el viernes por la manana
del Healy. Envia tus ultimas preguntas a arcticedge@whoi.edu.
Gracias por todas las preguntas.
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