GO-SHIP A13.5 Transit Collaborations

Science Team and Langseth Crew Prepare for CTD Rosette Deployments
;

7 February 2024

We are one week into the cruise!  One of the most eye-opening experiences for me so far has been witnessing the close collaboration between the science team and the Langseth crew, who have been meticulously planning for successful CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) rosette deployments. After four stops to conduct various tasks during our transit to station 1, we are ready to begin CTD operations tomorrow!

Our first stop occurred during day two. A gap had been detected in the winch wire, which could potentially cause the wire to degrade during future use, especially under the strain of deploying heavy equipment like a CTD rosette.  This could affect data transmission through the cable, compromising our measurements, and in extreme scenarios, could even result in damage to the structural integrity of the cable itself. If the winch wire were to snap during a profile, it could result in the loss of the CTD rosette, a very costly piece of equipment to lose and the backbone of the whole expedition. However, even more importantly, a snapped winch wire could be seriously dangerous if it recoiled back, under high tension and velocity, into the working area on deck where both crew and science team members may be working. 

To address this issue, the science team and the ship crew collaborated to remove the miswrap from the winch wire.  A heavy and very strange looking weight was connected to the end of the cable while they slowly spooled it out.  At a depth of 4227 meters, the gap was successfully resolved, and the team carefully rolled the cable back up.

After respooling the winch wire onto the winch drum, paying close attention to maintain proper tension and alignment, it was now deemed ready for future CTD deployments! The calm manner that the ship crew and the science team worked together to resolve this potentially dangerous situation was impressive. Soon we heard the engines roaring and we continued our transit to station 1.

Kristy McTaggart, oceanographer at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), observing the process to remove crossovers and fill in the gaps in the wire wraps on the drum of the sea cable.

Todd Jensvold, Chief Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) Marine Science Technician and Aaron Martin, LDEO Marine Science Technician, attach a torpedo weight to the winch wire for tension control.

Adding Weight for Tension Control as Winch Wire is Spooled Out. Picture by Teresa Kennedy (UT Tyler; URI)

Todd Jensvold, Aaron Martin and Koray Ergun lower torpedo weight as winch wire is spooled out.

Kristy McTaggart, oceanographer at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), observing the process to remove crossovers and fill in the gaps in the wire wraps on the drum of the sea cable.
Kristy McTaggart, oceanographer at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), observing the process to remove crossovers and fill in the gaps in the wire wraps on the drum of the sea cable.
On day four, the Langseth stopped for the second time so that we could conduct a practice CTD cast. Again, the crew and the science team began their collaborative work to prepare for the test cast.
Todd Jensvold, Chief Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) Marine Science Technician for the Langseth, and Jay Hooper, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), work together to prepare for CTD deployment.
Todd Jensvold and Jay Hooper, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), work together to prepare for CTD deployment.
Jay Hooper and Christian Saiz, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), prepare the CTD for deployment.
Jay Hooper and Christian Saiz, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), prepare the CTD for deployment.
Christian Saiz, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), and Todd Jensvold, Chief LDEO Tech for the Langseth, direct the crane operators to lower the CTD. Patrick Mears, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), Yifan Li, University of Delaware, and Anna Bruno, University of Washington, observe from the upper deck.
Christian Saiz and Todd Jensvold direct the crane operators to lower the CTD. Patrick Mears, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), Yifan Li, University of Delaware, and Anna Bruno, University of Washington, observe from the upper deck.

The CTD rosette was lowered to a depth of 1000 m and Niskin bottles on the rosette triggered closed to gather water samples. After the CTD was brought back up on deck, and safely secured into place, the fun began as each team gathered around the rosette to obtain their water samples. Daniel Sandborn and I are responsible for making sure that samplers are matching the correct sample bottle number for each group to the right Niskin of water and keeping the sampling process moving. We will also be collaborating on sampling salinity, seawater stable isotopes, and isotopes of Nitrate and Nitrite.

Some of the team members gathering their water samples from the Niskin bottles are shown below.

CTD Watchstanders Daniel Sandborn, University of Minnesota Duluth, and Teresa Kennedy, University of Texas at Tyler/University of Rhode Island. Picture by Daniel Sandborn (UMD)
CTD Watchstanders Daniel Sandborn, University of Minnesota Duluth, and Teresa Kennedy, University of Texas at Tyler/University of Rhode Island. Picture by Daniel Sandborn (UMD)
David Cooper, Isabel Schaal, and Anna Bruno, University of Washington, the transient tracer team, take samples to measure chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other anthropogenic gasses dissolved in seawater.
David Cooper, Isabel Schaal, and Anna Bruno, University of Washington, the transient tracer team, take samples to measure chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other anthropogenic gasses dissolved in seawater.
Yifan Li, University of Delaware, and Patrick Mears, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), obtaining samples to make measurements of the partial pressure of CO2 in seawater (pCO2).
Yifan Li and Patrick Mears, obtaining samples to make measurements of the partial pressure of CO2 in seawater (pCO2).
Rachel Cohn, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), taking samples for measuring dissolved oxygen concentrations.
Rachel Cohn, University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS), taking samples for measuring dissolved oxygen concentrations.
Evan Josza, University of Washington Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES), gathers samples to measure dissolved inorganic carbon, and Yifan Li, University of Delaware, takes additional samples while Teresa Kennedy verifies sample bottle numbers to the correct Niskins. Picture by Daniel Sandborn (UMD)
Evan Josza, University of Washington Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES), gathers samples to measure dissolved inorganic carbon, and Yifan Li takes additional samples while Teresa Kennedy verifies sample bottle numbers to the correct Niskins. Picture by Daniel Sandborn (UMD)
Additional test CTD casts were conducted on days five and six to ensure that all sensors were functioning properly, and that each team was ready to gather their data.  During all this excitement, a flying fish joined us on deck.  Check out how big this guy’s mouth is…I bet that would make quite a mark if it hit a person in mid-flight! Sharing an inside family joke here that really happened several years ago! LOL.
Chief Scientist Zachary Erickson, NOAA PMEL, and the flying fish that landed on deck!
Chief Scientist Zachary Erickson, NOAA PMEL, and the flying fish that landed on deck!
Close up of flying fish

Close up of flying fish. Learn more about these cool creatures here.

Check back in with us as we will have more exciting news to share soon!

Teresa Kennedy, CTD Watchstander, 2/1/2024
University of Texas at Tyler; University of Rhode Island

All pictures by Teresa Kennedy (UT Tyler; URI) unless otherwise noted.