Senior Thesis Cruise Day 6
"Oh.... kay.... that looks good to me..." - Mark, about the front photo of this blog
By Nicole and the 4-8 watch
1/3
This morning started with a bang as we did a CTD and learned the underway CTD. 4-8 shifts are weird because you have to be lucid and ready to do things at 4 am. The sunrise is amazing though, and we can start to see the sky light up well before the projected "sunrise".
Sunrise CTD at 5:30am local
After the CTD and underway CTD, the 4-8 watch went back to the computer lab to work on homework and try not to fall back asleep. We heard that there was a pod of dolphins, and we all rushed outside to see. Starboard, we all stood at the side and searched for any signs of life. We saw many flying fish, which were SO cool, but unfortunately no dolphins this time. As we head north, the waves and wind are getting more severe, and while we looked for dolphins, several people got splashed by a sneaker wave.
Jenna, Jessica, Maddy and Kayla post-sneakerwave
After being in transit for so long, having stations back to back with only a little time in between is stressful, especially when we have multiple tasks per station like zooplankton tows, manta net tows, underway CTDs, or phytoplankton net tows.
We finally arrived at the equator! We went from summer to winter in only a few short moments. Soon enough, we'll be back in summer on our transit back and then back to winter once we fly back to Seattle. It will definitely take some getting used to after being in air temperatures of 85°F and humidity of 73%. Since we crossed the equator without permission from King Neptune, we've been called to perform for his forgiveness. The ceremony will be on the way back to American Samoa when we cross over the equator again, as we're pressed for time when we have back-to-back stations. That means he'll be extra angry, so we need to get our best performances ready...
Poster in the galley "demanding" all pollywogs join the ceremony for King Neptune
Isaac, Jenna and Mina in the Southern Hemisphere, Equator and Northern Hemisphere
We deployed the uCTD for the first time, and Cody and Kayla are working to fix any bugs while training other people on how to do it. Everyone is exhausted, but only two more days left in the transect to 5°N!
