Time for Science!

Hi everyone!

We have arrived at our first station, Viosca Knoll! Yesterday was a busy day filled with assembling equipment and putting together the MOCNESS net (more on this in a later post) while at the dock and we headed out just after midnight after our safety briefing was completed by the captain.

            Photos:  Acoustic boom being lifted onto ship Friday; DEEPEND team at our muster station for a safety drill.

Today has been full of discussion, planning, and troubleshooting to make sure we are ready to go here at our first station.  The weather isn’t exactly cooperating as it’s very cloudy with occasional rain but a bit of a relief from the heat and humidity that usually is in place at this time of year out here. 

Photos: Weather forecast this afternoon; Sidney and April looking for small animals

The first nets have arrived on deck and everyone is getting used to their roles for processing the samples.  We should be finished with processing this trawl soon and we will take a nap until the next net comes up (around 1 am overnight).  We are excited to get this cruise underway!