Highlights From TC 02-05 Highly Migratory Species Research
About Student Connection Previous Cruises FAQs Current Cruise Plan(PDF) Next Cruise Plan(PDF) Cruise Schedule Ship Information NOAA Fisheries Honolulu Laboratory For More Information Privacy Policy
Highlights from TC 02-05 Highly Migratory Species Oceanography
Aloha from the Townsend Cromwell!
The TOWNSEND CROMWELL is currently southwest of the Hawaiian Islands collecting oceanographic data to support highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries research.
Specifically, we are conducting operations along a north-northeast, south-southwest line that starts west of the Island of Oahu. The stations are spaced one half of a degree of latitude apart (approximately thirty nautical miles) and runs from 21 degrees north to 7 degrees north latitude. Our track line coincides with the TOPEX satellite overpass so that the data collected may be used to develop the relationship between the sea surface height measurements by the satellite and the variability of ocean properties such as temperature and density through the water column. The survey line which began in the subtropical central water just south of Hawaii crosses into and through the North Equatorial Current and at 7 degrees N lat., just into the equatorial circulation.
In addition, Isaacs-Kidd Midwater trawl (IKMT) plankton tows are being made to examine possible forage habitat of olive ridley sea turtles. A series of day and night tows to sample gelatinous zooplankton are being made approximately 120 nmi apart and sample at 40 m and 100 m depths. These depths were determined as those frequented by olive ridleys from information obtained earlier from turtles instrumented with pop off satellite archival tags (PSATs); ongoing studies have identified gelatinous zooplankton as key components in the olive ridley diets.
NOAA's Teachers at Sea program arranges for school teachers to join scientists and crew on cruises so they can experience data collection in the field and pass that experience on to their students. We were fortunate to have three teachers with us on this trip. This is their contribution to the web update.
The Teacher Perspective
Science at sea is an eye opening experience with respect to how detail oriented the process really is. In the classroom, we show a condensed version of the scientific processes while in the actual field, we are looking at months and months of data collection and interpretation. The fact that the lab (the ship) moves, makes the process even more challenging with respect to accuracy. The crew on the ship is very knowledgeable when electronic parts go awry and must troubleshoot and improvise with materials on hand. Manual overides are not easily obtainable when your samples are 200m under water. We have a new found appreciation for the process that scientists go through to obtain the data and analysis of which we are the beneficiaries. Life aboard ship, including fire drills and showers, present new challenges. The incessant swaying of the ship presents barriers imperceivable on dry land. Overcoming sea sickness, and adjusting to life with ubiquitous movement reminds us of how many of the luxuries of land we have taken for granted.
Christina DeSiato, Sunrise Mountain High School Peoria, AZ Scott Wiessner, Sierra Vista Junior High Santa Clarita, CA Erica Tavangari, Glencoe High School Hillsboro, OR