 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
THE MAINE EVENT: FALL 2002 Predation by Gelatinous Zooplankton in the Gulf of Maine MISSION DISPATCH 2 • 09/04/02 Today's Weather - images courtesy of NOAA & RSMAS Dispatch by Harry Breidahl - Marine Education Society of Australasia [MESA] 
While the rest of the crew have been relatively busy, one of us (sadly me) has been quiet for a couple of
days. And for good reason. In the words of Kermit the Frog "it isn't easy being green" - the seasick kind of
green that is.
As the R/V Seward Johnson II reached Oceanographer Canyon in the Gulf of Maine early on Monday, 2 September the wind really picked up (gusting up to 45 knots on Monday night) and so did the seas. This change in the weather meant two things - JSL submersible dives and other research activities were put on hold and the less seaworthy among the crew were confined to their bunks for a while. 
As the vessel held station and the waves increased in height, a pod of over 100 common Atlantic dolphins paid
us a brief visit. While the crew patiently waited for the weather to abate, the dolphins showed us that human
technological skill has clear limits when it comes to the ocean. It seemed ironic that the dolphins were free
to frolic while we were fated to play a waiting game.
The bad weather continued through much of Tuesday, 3 September but by the evening wind speed had slowed to 15 knots and wave height was less than 5 feet. This time the submersible dove with Dan Boggess and Jimmy Nelson as sub crew and Francesc Pages and Andrew Opatkiewicz riding as science crew. The highlight of the dive for Francesc was the number of ctenophores (comb jellies) seen, including a specimen of an undescribed red ctenophore that is now slowly propelling itself around an aquarium in a cool room on deck waiting for its picture to be taken. At least three different kinds of red ctenophores are frequently observed below 700 m. )
There was plenty to do for the rest of the science crew as the first six specimens of
Nanomia cara came aboard.
The stomach contents of these specimens were analyzed until the early hours of Wednesday morning. Concurrently,
Mark Picheral and
Tom Sornes were on deck until just before dawn as the French video profiler
(www.obs-vlfr.fr/~pvm/index.html) was
successfully lowered to about 1000 meters at five locations.
When I first came aboard it struck me that everything in the science lab was well and truly tied down. The most common method of securing gear involved elastic straps (called bungee cords in the US but known as ocky straps in Australia) fixed to hooks that had been screwed into the countertops. The rough weather showed me why all of this tying-down was required. Although everything seemed stable, I was amazed at the science crew's well rehearsed ability to work while the whole room was moving so much.  |  |
| ||