Office of Marine Programs
University of Rhode Island
Narragansett Bay Campus
Narragansett, RI 02882-1197
Phone: 401-874-6211
Fax: 401-874-6486
Email: OMP@gso.uri.edu
Examination of Phytoplankton Biodiversity
R/V Endeavor Cruise Log
3/22/07
0110
38'49'' latitude
Hello everyone!
The weather is much milder today with air temperatures at 13.5o C (57oF). Yesterday, we experienced .5oC air temperatures. This morning, we concentrated on deploying the rosette at about 3:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The rosette is a real neat piece of equipment for oceanographic research. It has 12 10-liter collection bottles. The rosette is sent by a winch over the side of the vessel with the collection bottles open at both ends. It is first sent to the deepest depth to be sampled. Then a scientist or technician sends a command from a computer through a wire that is part of the winch cable. This closes off 1 or more bottles, whatever the goal is, capturing the sample. The rosette is then brought up to the next level to get samples there, then finally to 5m below the surface. By using the bottles in sets of 3-4, 3-4 water samples are taken at each of the desired depths. In the image below, we have just finished rigging the bottles in the open position; now they are being inspected to be sure that all the fittings are properly arranged.
I’m surprised that no one asked me about the accommodations. They are really great. I am sharing my stateroom with Chris Littlefield, who is with the Nature Conservancy on Block Island. He is here on a similar grant that paid for my participation. Since we are on separate teams, one of us is sleeping while the other is on duty. The food has been fantastic. Last night we had our choice of broiled salmon or beef tenderloin, butternut squash, green beans, rice, baked potato, salad and great chocolate cake for dessert. At lunch, we have a wide choice of soups, salads, sandwiches. Breakfast is to order … cereals, eggs any style, pancakes, sausage, bacon, home fries, rolls, etc.
We just passed the R/V Henry Bigelo, another NOAA ship.
Here are the samplings that we have accomplished so far (→). Each sampling used three collection bottles at each depth.
→ 2 near Breton Reef (Newport)
→ 3 over the Continental Shelf
3 in the Gulf Stream
3 in the Sargasso Sea
There will be a 12-36 hour stretch of sampling in the Sargasso
