Friday-Water Tests

Anita explaining what she is doing with water samples.

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.

Thursday

Thursday we set sail mid morning for our first station. The plan is to do a box core and run the flex chamber at the site first then launch the Arobat to fly for it's first run through a set coordinance so it can take it's readings. The Acrobat is a undulating system instrumented with many instruments to take readings on turbidity, nitrate, plankton counts, and many more I'll update as I find out. From the data that will be collected over an 8 hour period, the scientists will be able to pick their stations along the course they have set. In the morning we will go back to the 14 stations they have selected and collect samples for testing.

What this cruise is all about...

"The main goal of the project is exploratory. There are indications that some dinoflagellates may not migrate up and down in the water column as traditionally expected. We are going to look for communities that remain near the bottom and use nutrients fluxing out of the seabed and lower light levels to maintain themselves. It has implications for harmful algal blooms if populations can "hang out" near the bottom and serve as starters for surface blooms." Dr. Carrie Thomas



The focus of this research is in this project summary: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0726271

What are red tides? Red tides are caused in coastal waters by the rapid growth of certain microscopic algae, in particular dinoflagellates. Some species of dinoflagellates produce toxins that pose a threat to humans, marine wildlife, and the coastal economy. The most troublesome species in the Gulf of Mexico is Karenia brevis. Like other dinoflagellates these tiny, single-celled organisms photosynthesize using chlorophyll like a plant yet are mobile having two flagella that propel it through the water column. Given the right conditions, the organism will explode in population size very rapidly. The Gulf of Mexico is an important area to study harmful blooms. Blooms will originate 10-50 miles offshore along Florida's continental shelf, in "initiation zones." The nutrient levels in the water column seem to be important in determining whether a bloom will occur or not. Once a red tide occurs offshore, it is transported to the nutrient rich shallow waters by the wind and also the currents where it will continue to multiply into harmful levels.


Since this was the first of three cruises planned, it was more relaxed. When the team goes back in October, they will do more round the clock sampling. The team consisted of:
Lead Scientist: Dr. Dan Kamykowski, http://www.meas.ncsu.edu/faculty/kamykowski/kamykowski.htm
Scientist: Dr. Carrie Thomas, http://www.meas.ncsu.edu/faculty/thomas/thomas.htm
Scientist: Dr. John Morrison, http://www.uncwil.edu/phy/fac-morrison.html
1 Post Doctoral student
4 Doctoral Students
4 Masters students
1 Teacher on board

We Are Here

We have arrived and are setting up the ship. After two days on the road we finally arrived at the Port of Pensacola. On the R/V Pelican, in slip 2. Everyone is very busy setting up the labs for the research that is going to be conducted 24/7. I am in awe of everything that is going on.

One more day!

We leave tomorrow morning to start our journey to Pensacola, Florida!