Watching TIMA Tide Float Away

Our tenth and final float, TIMA Tide 2023, has been deployed

 

TIMA Tide 2023— Tybee Island Maritime Academy in Tybee Island, GA

Location: 162° 17.7765’ W; 77° 23.8915’ S

Time: Mon 06 FEB 2023 12:37 UTC

Temperature: -3.2°C, Wind 24 kts SW

Float Number: 21888

Float Type: Apex

Float Program: SOCCOM

This float was adopted by Tybee Island Maritime Academy in Tybee Island, GA. The float name embodies their school spirit and relevance to maritime education.

This map shows the location of the float deployment, about 100 km west of the Antarctic continent.

This map shows the location of the float deployment, about 100 km west of the Antarctic continent.

photo of TIMA Tide 2023 ready to deploy. Photo by Jenn Magnusson

TIMA Tide 2023 is ready to deploy. Photo by Jenn Magnusson

photo of the crew deploying the float TIMA Tide over the side

Another smooth float launch by the amazing crew of the IBRV Araon!  photo by Jenn Magnusson

I can’t believe this is the last float deployment of this expedition! I feel like I’ve just gotten started and now I want to launch these floats everywhere. I have learned more about the floats and how they work, and I have been able to talk to other scientists and technicians and answer questions about the floats and the data they collect. We’ve been without internet for more than a week and I was able to work independently with the scientists onboard to determine where to deploy the floats based on the updated sampling plan. I have also gotten comfortable taking water samples and processing them efficiently (although I still wouldn’t call myself a chemist). The crew has been really wonderful to work with and they have become experts at float deployment! I barely even have time to take pictures before each float bobs away to begin its profiling journey.

photo of TIMA Tide 2023 floats away into the Ross Sea. photo by Jenn Magnusson

TIMA Tide 2023 floats away into the Ross Sea. photo by Jenn Magnusson