Updates
Friendship Bracelets
April 7, 2024
Athena, one of the undergraduate students who refurbishes and assembles the Endurance 20 moorings in Corvallis, made “EA TWENTY” bracelets to commemorate the 20th Endurance Array research cruise. Credit: Jon Fram, OSU.
AUV Captured
April 7, 2024
Once the first AUV had finished its 20-hour transect, it was time to get her back onboard. The Glider Team directed the AUV to surface close to the ship. The AUV was visible with a blinking beacon. A team stood by at the starboard side of the deck with long poles with recovery hooks. When the AUV got close to the ship, the team went “fishing” trying to snag…
Hoses Galore Hold Moorings Together
April 6, 2024
A flexible connection between the buoy and the anchor of the Coastal Surface Moorings of the Pioneer MAB Array is created by multiple hoses with the capacity to stretch while maintaining an electrical connection (Fig 1). The stretch is necessary to account for wind, waves and currents that push and pull the buoy relative to the anchor. The hoses connect mooring components and contain coiled conductors that allow data transfer…
Weather Not Cooperating
April 6, 2024
The Endurance 20 team was not able to accomplish what they had planned for today (April 5, 2024) because seas were too rough. They pegged one of the ship’s clinometers while assessing conditions outside of the Newport jetties. See bubble in the upper right past 20 degrees.
AUVs Launched
April 6, 2024
The first of two Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) were launched from the R/V Neil Armstrong this morning for a 20-hour transect. The second will be launched about four hours later. Both will travel with the confines of the Pioneer Array. The first will do a cross-shelf survey, the second will travel along the shelf. The plan is to have them intersect along the way. The AUVs will be deployed 4-6…
Two More Gliders Deployed
April 5, 2024
Two versions of the Teledyne Gliders were deployed on April 5, 2024 at the Pioneer Array Mid-Atlantic Bight site. While testing of both models has been successfully conducted, this is the first time the Teledyne G3 model will be sampling in the same location as the earlier model, Teledyne G2 model. This dual deployment is a good opportunity to compare data collected and capabilities of each model of the glider. …
Third Surface Mooring Deployed
April 5, 2024
The rear deck of the R/V Neil Armstrong is feeling a little empty with the successful deployment of the third and final surface mooring. This time it was the Southern Surface Mooring. The skies had cleared, the swell lessened, and many on the back deck saw a humpback whale breech as the mooring entered into the water. The whale must have been curious about this huge blue and yellow creature…
Glider On Its Way
April 4, 2024
Glider Lead Diana Wickman and Glider Tech Andy Robison gently lift Glider 379 into the water for its six month deployment within the Pioneer Array in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Chief Scientist Al Plueddemann handles the tugger, which helps lift the 123 pound glider into the water.
More Prep for Leg 2
April 4, 2024
Getting ready for the second leg. Kris Newhall and Mike Robinson integrate the tower and hull of the new Shallow Water Mooring (SWM). Two new SWMs will be deployed at Pioneer MAB in 25-30 meter water depths.
Prep Back Home
April 4, 2024
Don Peters and Kris Newhall measure the dry weight and verify the stability of the Shallow Water Mooring (SWM) buoy. The SWM design developed by WHOI Principal Engineer Don Peters, when combined with the Prawler profiling vehicle and instruments on the buoy hull, will be able to sample the upper 80% of the water column.