Posts Tagged ‘Global Station Papa’
A Year at Sea
What one year in the ocean looks like…. A flanking mooring 64” sphere before (nice and shiny), and after (with 12 months of marine growth). Marine growth can inhibit the operation of the mooring and instruments and is one of the reasons we need to recover and refurbish the OOI infrastructure on a regular basis.
Read MoreDeployment Ready
The RV Sikuliaq is on site at the Papa array. Surrounded by the deck and instrument teams, and vessel crew, Jim Dunn gives a briefing on the deployment of the hybrid profiler mooring. It is always important to make sure everyone understands the operation and their roles, to ensure a successful and safe deployment.
Read MoreSafety First
Shipboard safety is always a priority. Early in the cruise all Papa personnel must go through the safety briefing and drills, including how to put on the immersion suit. Here Dan Bogorff and the team try on their suits and discuss emergency scenarios with Capt. Diego and other members of RV Sikuliaq crew.
Read MoreAcoustic Tests
Here Jim Dunn of WHOI prepares acoustic releases for a test deployment. They will be lowered into the water and test actuated using an acoustic signal. The acoustic releases are integral to the Papa mooring deployments and Jim will make sure they are all functional before mooring operations begin.
Read MoreMoorings Tested and Assembled
Following the loading of the equipment on the RV Sikuliaq, the moorings are assembled and tested during the transit to the Station Papa site.
Read MoreAnd They Are Off
With beautiful Seward, Alaska as the backdrop, RV Sikuliaq departs for the Station Papa 10 mooring and glider deployment expedition.
Read MoreEssential Equipment
Most people think about the instrumentation and the electronics on the OOI moorings. But the moorings wouldn’t hold position for 12 months through stormy weather without these pieces of equipment! These are the subsurface mooring 6000 lb mace anchors needed to keep everything in place.
Read MoreLanded in Seattle
And they are back! After 19 days, and successful completion of six mooring deployment/recoveries, the Station Papa 9 team aboard the R/V Sikuliaq arrived in Seattle today. Once through the canal and in port, the team unloaded and began the journey home. Well done, team.
Read MoreMore curious visitors
We may be interested in the ocean, but sometimes the ocean is interested in us! The Station Papa 9 cruise had some inquisitive visitors this year including these sperm whales and seals.
Read MoreBiofouled buoy
NOAA was also onboard the R/V Sikuliaq to turn their surface mooring. OOI is always happy to collaborate with other scientists and institutions! After a year in the water, this mooring was host to some marine life as it was brought on board.
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