Preparing for the next mission
Today is our last work day of this expedition, and we’re trying to get instruments back in the water before the weather turns again.
Deep-Sea Communities-2013-logbook
The sediment event sensor
Today we brought up the sediment event sensor (SES), a recent MBARI invention that collects sediment for a few hours at a time, and then takes a picture of it rather than collecting the sample.
Recovering the Benthic Rover
The weather models predicted today to be the calmest of our cruise, so today we recovered the Rover. Like the Mars Rover, the deep-sea Rover II is a self-driving tank that stops at planned intervals to run experiments on its environment.
Making the most of good weather
Today we made the most of the good weather. In the morning we launched the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts, which descended at 35 meters (115 feet) per minute to make its way to Station M by around breakfast time.
Deploying the elevator
Day two was calm enough for a few operations. This morning we deployed the benthic elevator outfitted with respirometry chambers, and a new sediment trap funnel that we’re pressure-testing.
Weathered out
Winds over 30 knots and swells over 10 feet were enough to sideline us for the first day of this expedition.
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About MBARI
Research programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) encompass the entire ocean, from the surface waters to the deep seafloor, and from the coastal zone to the open sea. The need to understand the ocean in all its complexity and variability drives MBARI's research and development efforts.