Journals 2006/2007

Gioya DeSouza-Fennelly
IS 143-Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School, NY, New York

"Conducting an East-West Atlantic transect to investigate the coupling between atmospheric and oceanic organic pollutants" R/V Endeavor June 20 - July 9, 2006

Journal Index: June 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26         27 - 28 - 29 - 30 July 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 Additional Resources

June 24, 2006
What really is pollution?

The sea was very calm. We did an air filter change at 5:15 am. The filters were still picking up a lot of particulates. We were done by 6 am. I sent journal entries and photographs to Andrea (GSO-ARMADA Project) by e-mail on the Sea wave account.

The sky was overcast and there was a cool wind blowing on deck. I had expected it to be much warmer, which would have allowed us more time on deck.

We set up 4 of the 7 Passive Safety Devises (PSDs). These are strips of plastic strung onto a wire, which were decontaminated with Methyl Chloride. This was the same solvent with which we have to rinse all our apparatus and equipment in the vented hood. We placed two of the PSD's on the fly bridge by the High Volume Air Filters and two in the wet lab. We also took blanks. The function of these PSDs will be to measure any contaminants/volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the ship itself. Most of these VOCs are emitted by paint and materials used when the ship was built. This process is called off gassing and could continue to take place 20-25 years after the products have been used, especially in areas where there is poor ventilation.

It was very important that all our equipment was rinsed with methyl chloride in this vented hood. The use of goggles and gloves was mandatory during this procedure.

The HiVol seems to be running very slowly. The 9-volt battery it uses lasts about 48 hours. Dave made a battery eliminator using a recycled 9-volt battery adapter and the top of a dead 9-volt battery. It worked perfectly and it was such an earth friendly alternative to the 10 + batteries we would have used on the trip.

David Nelson (Marine Technician) building a battery eliminator

In the afternoon Armando showed me how the ship's route was determined. He also showed me the textbook he used in Marine school and told me he constantly refers to it. I asked the Captain if it would be possible to please let me have a nautical chart take back to my students. He promised to give me the one were using on this trip. It will show all entries made during our journey from Gibraltar to Beavertail. It is the best gift I could have received on this trip. It will make a super teaching tool.

Had a girl's night. When Wallis (engineer) got off duty at 8 pm, we had manicures and pedicures while watching the "Notebook."