Journals 2006/2007

Miriam Sutton
Newport Middle School, Newport, NC

"Study of the seafloor and shallow subseafloor off the Labrador Shelf and Slope" Canadian Coast Guard Ship Hudson (CCGS Hudson) August 5 - September 1, 2006

Journal Index: August 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12          13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19          20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26          27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 September 1 Additional Resources

August 24, 2006

AM Location: Slope off Saglek Bank (58° 26' 18.68" N, 58° 21' 43.03" W)
PM Location: Slope off Saglek Bank (58° 23' 10.30" N, 58° 20' 13.16" W)
Sea Temperature: 9.8° C
Air Temperature: 8.8° C
Hydrospheric Conditions: Calm seas and light swell returned for the morning but a wind shift caused the chop to return by late afternoon.
Atmospheric Conditions: Cloudy skies and fog persisted through the day
Wind Speed/Direction: 5 knots/SE switched to 20 knots/NE

The seismic team completed another 36-hour seismic survey this morning. The scientists have been reviewing the data from the extended seismic survey to identify some of today's core sites. They would like to examine some of yesterday's sand ripple sites more closely but the distance we have traveled since last night may require that they core these sites on a later survey cruise this fall. I have observed the collaboration between the seismic team and the coring team and have noticed that they operate in a coordinated fashion similar to a team of physicians.

Let's say you've injured your knee and you visit your doctor for treatment. The doctor examines your knee and sends you to the lab for some x-rays or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to get a closer look at the region around the injury. Once the x-ray and MRI films are reviewed, your doctor may then proceed with a surgical procedure to repair the injured tissue. Your doctor might also choose an arthroscopic procedure to explore and repair your knee. Here's a closer look at my analogy:

Orthopedic Physician		Marine Geologist
Exploring your Knee		Exploring the Seafloor
X-rays, MRI		Seismic profiling
Arthroscopic surgery		Coring seafloor sediment

The marine geologists I am working with use their seismic equipment to create images of the sediment beneath the seafloor. Based on these images, the scientists can select specific sites of interest to explore more deeply using the sediment coring system. The seismic surveys take time to complete but it is time well spent. The survey data assists the scientists in narrowing their sampling area to a few good targeted sites. In a sea as big as the Labrador, time saves money.

Today's Activity: Using household kitchen items and a clear plastic container, make your own ripples is the sand by layering different items on top of each other. Try using items such as cookie crumbs for gravel and salt, pepper, and sugar for mud layers. Make a list of the layers as you create them from bottom to top.

Word of the Day: Collaboration

REMINDER: Record today's Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and the Air Temperature on the data table you created from the August 05 journal entry.