Hey everyone, Ray here, giving you an update on my third week across the Atlantic Ocean on the R/V Marcus G. Langseth. As we move farther away from the equator and closer to New York, the temperature and humidity have dropped dramatically. For my third week, I have been assigned a multitude of tasks. One of my tasks this week was to work with Josh, our chief source mechanic, to test the continuity of the wires within the octoblocks of the arrays and trace them back to our junction box while verifying our resistance with a multimeter. Our vessel has four arrays that trail hundreds of meters off the stern via large cables, (streamers).These arrays consist of various components that transmit the data collected by the hydrophones from the sound waves emitted by the air guns, which reflect off the ocean floor. Within the arrays, there are components called octoblocks. Essentially, an octoblock acts as a sensor placed along the array to receive different signals such as DI/PI (Depth Indication and Pressure Indication), GPS signals, NFHS (Near Field Hydrophone Signals), and other types of data being collected.
Another task I have been assigned is testing the strength and continuity of our large collection of Ethernet cables, which seem to have accumulated into the thousands over time. I used a network and cable tester that also measures the length of the cables by measuring their resistance. After a long workday, we are always exhausted but are still eager to enjoy the sunsets every evening on the bow of the vessel. Almost every sunset on the ocean is a humbling experience, to say the least.
Here are some pictures of my week; stay tuned for my final blog post in 7 days!
