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Dispatch 6: Practice makes perfect

Jennifer Kosty (Yale University)

September 23, 2026

11:32 local, 71.47◦N, 132.01◦W

Conditions:

  • 10% sea ice cover
  • -1.5◦C
  • Sunrise: 08:33 MDT (local)
  • Sunset: 20:46 MDT (local)
  • Day length: 12 hours, 13 minutes

We found ice! Today, we were treated to gorgeous views of sea ice (including many fragments of thick, multi-year ice) as we transited between science stations. The ice provided an incredible backdrop to a productive day full of science.

The WHOI team (Jeff O’Brien, Tim McDonough, Chris Basque, and Eric Hutt) had a busy morning, full of preparations for the upcoming mooring and buoy work. This included testing a new sea level pressure sensor that will be mounted on one of the tethered ocean profilers (TOP) we will deploy this cruise. They also tested some of the mooring equipment that will be deployed later this week.

Around 9 am, we arrived at CB1 where the night watch completed their first solo CTD rosette cast! Watch leader Chris Clarke worked with Clement Feriot, Kalam Delaney and the deck crew to lower the rosette to a depth of 1100 m and then bring it back on deck. During the ascent portion of the cast, CTD operator Collette Leclerc “fired” the Niskin sampling bottles by sending an electronic signal to close, allowing samples to be collected at specific depths in the water column. Once the rosette was safely back on board, the watch standers collected smaller water samples from the Niskin bottles which will be used to measure individual water properties. Some of these samples were then brought to the on-board analysts for immediate processing, while others were packed away for future analysis.

At 11:30 am, we went down to the mess and enjoyed a lunch of maple-glazed trout, curried tofu, and roasted zucchini. Later today, the day watch will complete two additional CTD rosette casts at CB31b and CB23a. We are happy to have lots of practice with rosette casts today, as it will allow everyone to get settled into their new roles!

 

The most recent sea ice concentration map for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Source: https://data.seaice.uni-bremen.de/databrowser/).
The most recent sea ice concentration map for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Source: https://data.seaice.uni-bremen.de/databrowser/).
Map showing our current location along the planned 2026 cruise track.
Map showing our current location along the planned 2026 cruise track.
Sea ice! Watercolor sketch by our artist in residence, Monika Leovenmark, and the photo that inspired it. Photo and painting by Monika Loevenmark.
Sea ice! Watercolor sketch by our artist in residence, Monika Leovenmark, and the photo that inspired it. Photo and painting by Monika Loevenmark.
Collette Leclerc preserving dissolved oxygen water samples. Photo by Jennifer Kosty.
Collette Leclerc preserving dissolved oxygen water samples. Photo by Jennifer Kosty.
Clement Feriot (left) and Lauren Bannerman-Maxwell (right) drawing water samples at CB1. Photo by Jennifer Kosty.
Clement Feriot (left) and Lauren Bannerman-Maxwell (right) drawing water samples at CB1. Photo by Jennifer Kosty.
Tim McDonough (left) and Jeff O’Brien (right) testing a new sea level pressure sensor that will be deployed on a tethered ocean profiler (TOP). Photo by Chris Basque.
Tim McDonough (left) and Jeff O’Brien (right) testing a new sea level pressure sensor that will be deployed on a tethered ocean profiler (TOP). Photo by Chris Basque.
Curried tofu and roasted zucchini served at lunch. Huge thanks to the galley staff for making special vegetarian/vegan meals! Photo by Jennifer Kosty.
Curried tofu and roasted zucchini served at lunch. Huge thanks to the galley staff for making special vegetarian/vegan meals! Photo by Jennifer Kosty.