Day 11 - May 22
Weather Report
Time: 10 :30 AM Pacific Daylight Time
Air Temperature: 7.1 Degrees Celsius
Sea Temperature: 12.2 Degrees Celsius
Wind Speed: 26 Knots
Water Depth: 3602.6 Meters
Ship speed: 11.5 Knots
Latitude: N 51.27
Longitude :W 136.2
Today the ship is steaming for Ocean Station PAPA, our furthest offshore site. PAPA is
1000 miles offshore of Vancouver, B.C. and about 775 miles south of
Anchorage, AK. This site has the longest record of offshore
oceanographic observations initiated by the Canadian weathership
sampling program. according to Chief Scientist Mark Wells. The
estimated time of arrival is tomorrow morning around 8AM. The
scientists and researchers use this time to clean the laboratories and
equipment, complete paper work, and catch up on sleep.
We are
headed to Station PAPA because it is located in a "high nitrate low
chlorophyll" (HNLC) region of the oceans. Scientists know of three
such areas on our planet. Dr. Wells writes, "HNLC regions are of
great scientific interest because in effect they are systems where
nutrients that normally fuel the rapid growth of phytoplankton (the
single celled plants that are the foundation of the marine food web)
are not used up."
The dictionary defines phytoplankton as small
and microscopic organisms drifting or floating in the sea or fresh
water, consisting chiefly of diatoms, protozoans, small crustaceans,
and the eggs and larval stages of larger animals. Diatoms,
accordingly, are a single-celled alga that has a cell wall of silica.
Dr. Wells continues, "The purpose of our trip is to study how
natural fluctuations in iron inputs to coastal and offshore waters
affect phytoplankton growth (and ultimately carbon processing –
CO2 link)."
It seems that the terminology gets deeper the further we go into the
ocean. I wonder whether there is any correlation? Humor is an essential
part of the trip. Working day and night in a floating laboratory, in a secluded region of the ocean, has to make you chuckle.
Send comments and questions to Mr. Caddigan
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