Journals 2006/2007

Bill Griffith
Carroll High School, Southlake, TX

"Seafloor sedimentary habitats and shallow subseafloor microbial communities of the South Pacific Gyre" December 17, 2006 - January 31, 2007

Journal Index: December 13 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20                 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27                 28 - 29 - 31 January 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10             11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18             19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 24 - 25 - 26 Additional Resources

December 24, 2006
Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is here! Several crew members and scientist will be exchanging gifts this evening. The cook, Jay, has been preparing Christmas food items for 2 days. Coring is underway on deck. Everyone has something they should be doing. I guess I need to get to work. Core samples continue to be processed and data collected. Several test results are being examined for accuracy and, if needed, methods modified to improve results. I noticed that I have learned to balance myself (rocking ship) and make precise lab measurements at the same time. It took a couple of days before I could do this with ease. Still awaiting the sighting of any life other then a few sea birds and an occasional flying fish. The South Pacific Gyre is considered a desert in the sea. There is little photosynthesis activity (plant life) and what one would consider normal seacoast activity is not seen here. I continue to hope that whale or dolphin will appear. The marine mammalogists on board advised both were out here but hard to spot.