WHOI’s Jess K. readying a CPIES for deployment. (photo by Magdalena Andres)
Things are going well out here. The WHOI CPIESs team (Jessica K., Will H. and Magdalena A.) and Drew C. have deployed 5 of the 9 CPIESs. CPIES deployments are little different on Atlantis than on most ships, but it works really well to throw the float over the starboard quarter and then lift the CPIES over the side with the crane (that has worked better for us than doing it midship, where the swirling flow tends to keep the float — and current meter cable — tight against the hull).
CPIES deployment off the R/V Atlantis (photo by Magdalena Andres)
The WHOI AUV team — Greg, Rich M. and Fred M. — have gotten 3 engineering/test/scout dives in, weaving their deployments and recoveries around the IWR deployments and CTDs. We’ll be heading back to the Seamount for a targeted look at some features identified by Maurice, Masako and Sean (most likely on Friday afternoon or Saturday).
It’s mooring deployment day at the NOPP GIW Aleutians site! The weather forecast is good (predicted to be one of the best weather stretches out here), currents here today are weak (<0.1 m/s) according to the shipboard OS75 ADCP (arrow image below) and we got the chance to do a careful survey of the mooring site with the ship’s multibeam two nights ago. One million thanks to Maurice for processing the multibeam data for us (he was able to use a full depth CTD from one of the nearby CPIES deployments to calibrate the sound speed, so the depth estimate should be spot on). Good thing, since the actual depth is about 200 m deeper than that predicted by the bathymetric product we were using since it’s not a very well mapped area yet.
Ocean current velocities (arrows) from the OS 75kHz ADCP.
Multibeam survey of the mooring site (yellow star at 49.5 N) with the track of the R/V Atlantis in magenta. There is a nice flat spot for our mooring and a rather big seamount at 49.48N -169.8W. Image courtesy of Maurice Tivey.
The SIO Send Lab, MOD Group and Drew C have all the bits organized and a detailed plan worked out with Catfish (the bosun) and Captain Derek B., who has done a ton of mooring deployments (on Atlantis and Armstrong). And we’ve got a great group in the Science Party supporting Noah and Drew C. during the deployment.
Shane B from the SIO MOD lab prepping the Wirewalker for deployment! (photo by Magdalena Andres)
Early morning for the team members getting reading on the deck of the R/V Atlantis. (photo by Magdalena Andres)
…we’re just getting started this morning and will splash the buoy in an hour or so, and then will move through the water at 1 kt for about 8 hours before the anchor drop. I’ll send along another update at the end of the day.
Thanks for the support!
Warm Regards
Magdalena (WHOI) & Noah (SIO Send lab)
