Friday-Stations

7 areas were selected to test, once during the day and once during the night, for a total of 14 stations. At each station we collected water samples at various areas within the water column.

To collect the water they used a CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) attached to a metal framed or carousel along with numerous water sampling bottles.





This "hydrocast" is deployed off the side of a vessel, and provides information about the composition of the water column.

While the carousel is going down to the bottom, the team is watching on the computer screens deciding where in the water column to collect the samples. As the carousel is raised back up they release the triggers on the water sample bottles by a click of the computer mouse, trapping water from the each selected area in the water column in the various bottles.

Once the carousel is back on deck, we all helped to collect the samples of water into labeled containers to take into the lab to run various tests on the samples.

By analyzing information about the water’s physical parameters, scientists can make inferences about the occurrence of certain biological processes, like the location of dinoflagettes in the water column. Knowledge like this can, in turn, lead scientists to a better understanding of such factors as species distribution and abundance in particular areas of the ocean.