Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Ocean Interactions
Ocean and Atmosphere connecting Scientists, Teachers & Students

January 20, 2005 (Thursday)

Daily Journal Entries : Judy | Paquita

Today is our fourth day out a sea. It's really true, it takes a while to find your "sea legs". There is a lot of excitement on the ship today because we've run into a nice batch of precipitating cumulous clouds.

It's common to collect data with what's called the "updraft" data while convection energy from sun makes the air heat up, expand, and rise. Now, with the rain, scientists are gathering data from the down drafts in the area. It's a rare opportunity. Then again, the whole trip is that, and not just for me! It's taken four years of planning for some 12 different groups to come together to do this scientific research, and the scope of the project is mind boggling. The ship, the planes, the equipment and technology used for these experiments is incredible.

Normally we travel back and forth on a marked path about 8km long off the North East side of Barbuda. We are lucky to have such a friendly Captain. Captain Ralph has turned the ship about to chase a cloud formation for Paquita. (Paquita is chief scientist on this part of the cruise.) It's a hard thing to do unless the clouds are traveling in wind patterns that are at speeds comparable to the ship. Captain came down at lunch time and said to Paquita "Rumor has it you are enjoying this power of telling the Captain what to do!" We all cracked up because it was totally a joke, but I bet there are plenty of Captains out there who would be less inclined to turn the ship about at the suggestion of a scientist. But the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is in the business of supporting scientific exploration, and the Captain and Crew on board the Seward Johnson are very accommodating--very wonderful people.

Sam the cook on the ship (her real name is Gloria, it seems everyone has a nick name here) told me this morning that just about everyone on board has a college degree. No one puts on any airs of entitlement here. For example, one crew member "Blue" (Stewart Moreaux) was sweeping and mopping floors the other day, but I found out he is a licensed engineer and has been Chief Engineer on board the Seward Johnson II! He's filling in for another crew member who had to take a leave of absence for a while. In other words, people have to all pitch in and help one another on this ship. The staff are kind and caring, and it feels like family on board thanks to them.

Some funny things happened on the bridge this morning, and I'll try to write that up for you this afternoon. I've taken many photographs of clouds today, but I have to get busy with the radiosonde folks to correlate some data. I can't say it enough, what a privilege it is to be here, and how grateful I am to be a part of this big project!

  - Judy