Wednesday, June 18, 2014

All Aboard the Weatherbird!!!

This past week in Saint Petersburg has been packed full of learning, papers, and of course research cruises! As an experienced researcher on the R/V Weatherbird, I was so super excited to remember just how fun this 115 foot boat actually is!

Every group was separated into different stations including the CTD, water quality testing, neuston an bongo plankton nets, and otter and dredge nets. Professor Judkins and Brock decided on groups and I had the privilege of being in a group with Wally and Layna! We were on Neuston and Bongo plankton nets for the first site, which was 18 miles offshore and the CTD and the otter trawl for the second station two miles from the skyway.

Deploying the nets was "alright." It was uneventful considering we didn't truly deploy the nets. In fact, we stood next to the nets while the crew deployed it. It was very fun to see the nets get pulled initially though.

The real fun was being a part of the CTD team! Wally and I bonded our strengths and moved the 12 chamber piece of equipment with complete precision and absolute perfection! Layna, Wally, and I went into the electronics lab shortly after to record various data for the CTD. We fired the bottles and even got to use the walkie talkie to talk to the crew! Layna did a great job of that by the way.

During the otter trawl and the dredge, the whole crew got involved in identifying and sorting the creatures. I was a recorder, and from that perspective it was a very fast paced, demanding, and difficult task. One that makes me appreciate recorders much more! We were identifying shells, algae, fish, sponges, and more!

Once that was done, it was a great sign of relief and we all got to hang out on the bow with the amazing view! We saw dolphins, had delicious food, and things got a little too fun when my shirt went overboard. The Weatherbird was nothing less than a great time with of course the most fun people I've ever met!

Waiting on the Otter!!!

Look at the CTD on that thing!

Hanging out with the inverts!

Destiny, Zack, and I are excited for the boat.

Zack was especially excited!

Tiffany vs. Trawl, who wins?!


Dolphins!!!

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