Updates
Rockin’ and Rolling but Getting the Job Done
September 11, 2023
The weather finally cleared up enough over the weekend for mooring recovery operations at OOI’s Global Irminger Sea Array to happen. Here Chris Basque directs the recovery of floats, in spite of the rocky waves and potential wet feet. Video credit: John Lund © WHOI.
Back at it!
September 7, 2023
After a brief detour caused by heavy winds and high seas, the R/V Neil Armstrong and the OOI team are back at the array, deploying moorings during brief weather windows. They are getting the job done, even though conditions have been less-than-ideal.
High Waves Delay Operations
September 4, 2023
September 1-4, 2023: Leg 3 once again began with unfavorable weather. Even staying in port one extra day didn’t prevent the ship from leaving Newport in rough seas with blustery winds. Once onsite, high winds and unpredictable swell made it hard to hold position, and too hazardous for Jason dives or even CTD casts. Only on September 4 did conditions settle down enough to continue operations. Early in the morning,…
Taking Shelter from Severe Storm
September 4, 2023
Conditions forced the R/V Neil Armstrong to take shelter in Prince Christian Sound. Quite a storm is going on at the array. Peak wave heights have subsided from 15.5 m to about 11.45 m. The surface buoy is still showing wind speeds 23 m/s (44.7 knots). These conditions make it impossible to deploy the moorings safely. As soon as a weather window allows, they will head back to the array…
Weather Delays
September 1, 2023
August 31, 2023: Due to weather considerations, the R/V Thomas G. Thompson has postponed its departure for Leg 3 of RCA operations. The new plan is to leave the dock at ~1400 September 1. Stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy an image of stunning soft coral that grows on the carbonate deposit called Pinnacle at Southern Hydrate Ridge.
Weather Dictates Pause
September 1, 2023
Weather dictates pause in operations. The OOI team aboard the R/V Neil Armstrong are in Prince Christian Sound to avoid severe conditions at the array site. The weather forecast called for 70 knot wind gusts and 30 foot waves at the work site. It’s anticipated that the vessel may be able to return to work around Sunday. Stay tuned!
Gliders Begin Operations
August 31, 2023
The R/V Neil Armstrong and OOI science team start operations at the Irminger Array by deploying the gliders. This allows the gliders to be monitored by the pilots onshore and ensure all systems are operational while the vessel is still onsite performing mooring operations. Chris Basque and Jess Kozik prepare glider 575 for deployment. Three gliders will operate autonomously at Irminger for ~12 months.
Vessel is on its Way
August 30, 2023
Pedal to the metal! The R/V Neil Armstrong departed Reykjavik, Iceland Aug. 28th and is enroute to the Irminger Array off Greenland as fast as possible to start glider and mooring operations ahead of storms that are closing in….
Successful Second Leg
August 30, 2023
August 29, 2023: The R/V Thomas G. Thompson arrived back in Newport to end Leg 2 around 12:30 local time. The team went into high gear to offload and reload the back deck for Leg 3, which heads back out on the 31st. The previous day was a busy one. Jason completed a Benthic Experiment Package swap at the Oregon Offshore site, then headed to the Southern Hydrate Ridge. There, the…
Underwater Swaps
August 28, 2023
August 27, 2023: The team arrived at Southern Hydrate Ridge on schedule (~0600). During dive J2-1536, Jason swapped out junction box MJ01B. A series of instrument swap dives occurred at the same location. The medium-powered junction box (MJ01B) the was turned successfully. Jason then went back into the water for dive J2-1537 with a digital still camera (CAMDSB103) in the undervator. The new camera was connected to the new junction box…