24 May 2004 - Part 1

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 87

Scientists have to be very flexible when working in the field. Ice conditions, low visibility, technical difficulties, etc. can force modifications and compromises to carefully made plans. No one wants to make the changes, but sometimes they are necessary. For example, the scientists agreed during last night’s meeting that if, due to the ice conditions, we did not get to East Hanna Shoal 1 (EHS 1) by morning, we would sample where the ship was located at 7 AM. Currently we are approximately 20 nautical miles south of EHS 1 so a new processing station, EHS 0, has been established and sampling begins.

The conductivity, temperature and density package (CTD) is lowered from the starboard (right) side of the Healy. The CTD contains instruments that give the scientists information about the physical properties of the water being sampled. It also has the rosette of Niskin water collecting bottles that scientists use to obtain their water samples.

To see photographs taken by Steve Roberts of UCAR/JOSS, click here.