It’s hard to believe it’s only been a week! It feels like both so much and so little has happened. Once offshore from Iceland and within our permitted range, the marine tech team and MATE interns (Ella, Jacob, and I) started off this week by turning on the EM710 multibeam sonar and 3.5 kHz Knudsen CHIRP sub-bottom profiler. We then launched the magnetometer, and got all associated software properly running and collecting data. Once our depth increased beyond ~1000 meters, we switched from the EM710 to the EM122 multibeam sonar system, which we have been using ever since. Our first day or so involved minor troubleshooting of these systems as we became familiar with how to properly operate and monitor them.

            As a MATE intern on a geophysical remote sensing cruise, my on-watch tasks have primarily consisted of routine monitoring of the multibeam, sub-bottom, magnetometer, and gravimeter systems. Off-watch, the other Armstrong MATE interns and I have been making a point to learn as much as we can about the diverse technology and protocols that are central to most UNOLS research cruises, despite the fact that this one is limited in scope. The majority of our instruction has been under the lead marine technician aboard this cruise, known here as the lead member of the Shipboard Scientific Support Group. However, we also learn additional relevant skills from other crew members including the Mates. This week, our training has included: 

  • Learning about the pCO­2sensor, turning it on, and properly adjusting flow rates through the system
  • Fully disassembling and reassembling the CTD and Rosette (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth probe with other optional additional sensors and the Niskin bottle carousel)
  • Gaining an understanding of how power and data are transmitted between the CTD deck box and CTD sensors, and properly entering our CTD configuration into the associated software so as to enable this flow of power and data
  • Creating hypothetical deck plans with the Chief Mate and entering them into DELFTload, a program which enables one to calculate the effects of different loads and their positioning on the ship. We also then utilized this program to balance these loads using the ship’s various ballasts.
  • Processing and cleaning multibeam data using two common programs: Qimera and CARIS
  • How to properly launch an XBT, upload the cast data into SSM (Sound Speed Manager) for processing, and incorporate the updated sound velocity data into SIS (the EM122 software).

Other than training, I’ve been eating amazing food (including daily cheese and charcuterie at cheese o’clock), making up for it at the gym, getting other work done, and hanging out with the crew, science party, and other MATE interns. Most of our free time has been spent chatting about life, playing endless card games, enjoying the deck when it’s not too cold and wet out, watching the FIFA Women’s World Cup, playing assassin, and talking about the gnarly weather ahead. Speaking of the weather, things are looking pretty rough for Wednesday! To prepare, we’ve been steaming toward a more optimal location, securing anything we don’t want flying, taking sea sickness meds, and being dramatic. Luckily, I haven’t had any need for sea sickness meds so far, so let’s hope it stays that way!