Weather Report
Time: 10:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time
Air Temperature: 5.9 Degrees Celsius
Sea Temperature: 7.3 Degrees Celsius
Wind Speed: 4.2 Knots
Water Depth: 3986.6 Meters
Ship speed: 11.4 Knots
Latititude: N 50.23
Longitude : W 143.16
The R/V Thomas G. Thompson is making headway toward Station PAPA. The previous estimated time of arrival was not accurate. I am led to believe we will arrive at our destination this evening. Most of the researchers slept in anticipation of three extremely busy days collecting, filtering, analyzing and recording.
If I may quote Dr. Mark Wells, "We are studying how natural fluctuations in iron inputs to coastal and offshore waters affect phytoplankton growth (and ultimately carbon processing – CO2 link). What I mean here is that most of the variations in iron input to the subarctic Pacific is in the form of atmospheric dust from both China and Alaska. These are natural processes, and the amounts of iron they contribute to surface waters are far, far less than in the mesoscale experiments. In other words, the previous experiments were designed to test whether iron was the major factor limiting phytoplankton growth. They were not designed to determine how natural fluctuations in iron input affect phytoplankton growth. By analogy, it’s like using a hammer to thread a needle. We are exploring how small variations in iron (and copper - another essential metal) affect the growth of larger phytoplankton like diatoms. Put another way, we are asking how natural scale changes (versus massive manipulations) alter the growth of diatoms."
On-board are marine biologists and marine chemists who work to put the pieces of this giant puzzle together. As with a science fair project, using the scientific method -- that is, researching a problem, stating the problem in the form of a question, making hypotheses, testing hypotheses or project experimentation, and project conclusion -- is the procedure for successfully accomplishing the task.
Send comments and questions to Mr. Caddigan
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