Author: Royhon Agostine

Currently, the ship is positioned on the last Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) line southwest of St Lawrence Island. This will be the last area where science sampling will take place and the cruise will come to an end after we arrive in Dutch Harbor on the 15th. We have been transiting for the past few days after completing the “wheel spokes” shaped sampling sites. This past week, I have been staying busy finishing up my manuals relating to the Niskin Bottle lanyards and ICE Imagery. I also created a graphical manual on deploying the CTD aboard the USCGC Healy for future reference during different cruises. I have finished my tool in ArcMap, it can be used to help future navigational operations allowing the user to convert multiple satellite images of sea ice into a single blended image.

Also this week I learned how to use a Micro scanner which is used to map out network connections. An Ethernet cable can be connected to the Micro scanner and then a wand like device creates a tone if touched to the connected Ethernet cable allowing me to identify cables by sound. I used this device to trace out network connections of cables in Aft Con (the aft bridge) as well as the scoreboard cables. The Micro scanner also displays the length of the connected Ethernet cable.

Earlier this week, I continued to assist with science operations on deck, helping collect sediment and zooplankton samples. I also disassembled the magnetic carousel, which triggers the Niskin bottles to close, on the back up CTD rosette. After disassembling, I cleaned different components of the carousel. In addition, I learned about the components of a Benthos Pinger which was used on the multi-Haps core in the deep sampling sites which were over 1000m deep. I disassembled one of the pingers, to clean the parts and check the batteries. The Benthos Pinger creates a sound, similar to sonar, which bounces off the ocean floor. Using a transducer, we can listen to the sound and calculate the distance from the seafloor to the location of the package (deployed equipment). The Knudsen echo sounder is normally used during equipment deployment to determine the distance from the ship’s location to the bottom. If the winch operator were to wire out too much, in compensation for the ocean’s current which angles the package, then the possibility of entanglement between the cable and package increases. Between monitoring the Benthos Pinger and the wire tension, we successfully retrieved multiple cores from the depths of the Arctic ocean.

On the deepest CTD cast of the cruise, around 3000m, we sent down pillow cases full of Styrofoam cups to be shrunk under the pressure. We decorated them before sending them down, and now I have a cool souvenir from this trip. With less than a week left of my internship I am wishing it was longer. I have gained a lot of experience and have made professional connections which will hopefully lead to a career.

Photo Credit: Amanda Norcross

With the cruise under full swing there has been science 24/7 around the clock, I have drifted towards the noon to midnight or later shift. Most people have 12 hour or 8 hour shifts, the weather was much colder and more windy earlier this week, currently it has been foggy and less cold as we are northwest of Barrow. As shifts rotate, I am constantly seeing new coast guard faces. Most of my time recently has been consumed with GIS related projects. I have been collaborating with the sediment scientists to create a map of past cruises, comparing past sampled site’s biomass in grams per carbon and overlaying the current cruise sites. I have been assisting with the sediment scientists helping sample sediment from the Van Veen grabs, and collecting live specimen from them as well. In addition, I have continued to assist with the bongo net toes, seeing some interesting specimens such as copepods, arctic cod, prickleback, other fish larvae and jellyfish.

This week I aided in repairing the Salinometer; removing, cleaning, and replacing the conductivity cell as well as calibrating the system. I also disassembled and reassembled a Benthos Pinger, making sure it is in working condition for deeper water Haps Core samples. On average, most of the area we have been in has been no deeper that 100 meters. Today we have been in waters over 1000m deep. For the deep-water core sampling Brett and I securely attached the Benthos Pinger allowing for a more accurate depth reading to help successfully retrieve cores.

I have also been monitoring the CTD casts and ensuring the casts go smoothly. I have learned how to clean fiber optic cables and create fiber optic connections thanks to STARC’s fiber optic crash course. Currently, I am optimizing some of the niskin bottles and writing a manual on the proper specifications. In addition, I have some GIS manuals to write up on how to mosaic and import ICE imagery into the QPS system so they can be overlaid with the live location of the ship. I have been attending the nightly planning meetings with the head of the departments, usually nothing interesting happens but it is nice to be involved and see how the operations are planned.

It looks like no ice will be seen on this trip, global warming is very visible compared to previous summers. Scientists have shown me pictures of walruses and polar bears with plenty of ice around from previous years at the same location we are currently at. In addition, earlier this week we rendezvoused with the two sail drones, there is a picture going around with a seal catching a ride aboard one of them. One of the Coasties convinced me to hit the gym with him earlier this week and I am still sore. I am still learning a lot every day, my mentor is a great teacher and my co-workers are always willing to explain present issues to me.

They filled the ice cream freezer with ice cream bars, it’s hard for me to stay away from all the Blue Bunny treats! For Labor Day yesterday, I attended the celebration in the hangar, enjoying some snacks and games with both scientists and crew. The northern lights were visible a few nights ago, but sadly I was not awake to see them, I am hoping I will get to see them before the end of the cruise. Time seems to be flying by with only about 10 days until we return to Dutch Harbor.

Photo Credit: Amanda Norcross

Week one aboard the USCGC Healy has been a wealth of knowledge. The first day aboard I was given a tour of all STARC related equipment, the ship is a massive maze and it took me a few tries traveling between my stateroom and the lab not to get lost. We left port at 1000 on Saturday the 26. We then headed to Nome to pick up a few more scientists before we began collecting data. The weather so far has been pleasant with somewhat sunny days and not too much breeze. The ship’s movements are hardly noticeable compared to the fishing vessels I have worked on. There are numerous science teams aboard and the instruments which are being used include the CTD with 24 Niskin bottles, a van Veen grab and Haps core for sediment samples, as well as zooplankton net tows known as the bongos.  The onboard network has plenty of reading material regarding manuals relating to STARC operations and daily ship operations.

The first two days at sea, we were setting up the scientist’s equipment in preparation for the test launch of the equipment. We replaced the Nitrogen bottle in the pCO2 system and once underway all systems were fired up and recording of data began. Tony and I re-terminated the 32 cable for the zooplankton toe equipment, in addition the deck unit had to be wired into the system; between all the meetings this, was an all-day project and was very satisfying to complete in a successful and clean manner. Yesterday, after retrieving the scientists from Nome, a test run of equipment was carried out, the CTD was launched and sediment samples were gathered. In between STARC projects, I have been working on creating a manual of how to aesthetically mosaic satellite ICE imagery via Global mapper, Qgis and Arcmap, the computers onboard however are lacking Arcmap which makes things more difficult but luckily, I have a student version of the software on my laptop.

Overall, I feel I have already gained a lot of experience, everyone is very friendly and willing to teach, as the MATE intern my supervisor has given me the freedom to help in whatever interests me. I assisted in the first zooplankton specimen gathering, seeing crab larvae and other specimens under the microscope was extremely fascinating. Today we Started on the first DBO line southwest of Point Hope Alaska. I feel overwhelmingly fortunate to have this opportunity and will make the most of this experience. I have been waking up at 0700 every day for breakfast and work, I usually rack out between 2100 and 2400.

The food has been great so far, and morale seems to be high among the science and coast guard crews. As we head north, the temperature change is noticeable affecting the temperature of our staterooms.

PhotoCredit: Amanda Norcross

Royhon Agostine – USCGC Healy

I will be flying up to Dutch Harbor on August 22 and flying back on September 17; I will be an intern aboard the first cruise which is a biological mission involving CTD casts. The USCGC Healy will be the largest ship I have worked on, https://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcHealy/. I am looking forward to heading North and am excited to gain as much experience and knowledge as I can. I have been all around Alaska for the commercial fishing industry, from Bristol Bay and False Pass to Southeast and everywhere in between. However, this will be much farther North than I have ever been.

I have packed my gear and am counting down the days in anticipation. Earlier this summer I was in Bristol Bay on a 32ft boat for fifty days, I am excited to get back out on the water in a much larger ship. I am thankful for everyone involved in making this internship oppurtunity available. My next blog will describe the day to day aboard the ship.

More to come,

Royhon Agostine