October Expedition to Deploy and Recover Test Moorings in Prep for Move to Mid-Atlantic Bight
A team of scientists and engineers will leave Woods Hole, MA aboard the R/V Armstrong on October 23, 2023 to conduct a variety of at-sea tests to continue preparations for the anticipated move of the Coastal Pioneer Array to the Mid-Atlantic Bight, off Cape Hatteras, NC. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Sheri White is serving as Chief Scientist. The team has a very busy agenda. First will be the deployment of a newly designed shallow water mooring off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, for easy access and recovery and to test its suitability in a shallow environment. From there, the team will head to the mid-Atlantic Bight to recover a mooring and two anchors that have been in place since spring 2023. Other activities will include a site survey, an ROV inspection of alternate locations, and water and CTD sampling to ensure the new array is properly sited. The public comment period on the environmental assessment of the new location is open until October 30, 2023. Cruise duration October 23- November 5, 2023.
Location
The Coastal Pioneer Array is located off the coast of New England, about 75 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard.
Ship
The R/V Neil Armstrong is a state-of-the-art oceangoing research vessel.
Updates
Regular posts about life aboard the ship, work accomplished, and encounters with marine life.