Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006

R/V MIRAI

"ADCP mooring deployment and ATLAS sensor swap"

Fine, but rain in the late night
Weak westerlies prevailed and sea was calm.

Observations:

We deployed the ADCP mooring at (1.5N, 80.5E) in the morning.
We also swapped the met sensors for ATLAS buoy at the almost same point.
Only near the MIRAI and adjacent western area has no deep clouds. We continue the 3-hourly radiosonde observation, and other continuous observations.

Remarks:

With the greeting "Safety first" by the Captain, we began to deploy the ADCP mooring. It started at 0800 LST, and finished to let the sinker go at 0936 LST. Sea depth was 4543 m. We are proud of our ship crew and marine technician who made this operation smoothly and safely.
After deploying the ADCP mooring, we went to the ATLAS buoy site and swapped the meteorological sensors. As we obtained enough information by NOAA/PMEL and by yesterday's direct examination, we could do smoothly. Two marine technician were terribly tough against the buoy motion. They did on the buoy not only the re-installation but also the care for damaged cables. They are really the men.

photo-1 : Beggining of the mooring deployment. Red sphere in the center is the float with ADCP sensor.
photo-2 : Captain carefully operates the ship by watching the progress of deployment.
photo-3 : Close to the finish of the deployment. Glass balls (yellow), two acoustic releasers, and a sinker was set on the deck.
photo-4 : After deploying the ADCP mooring, we confirmed the exact place of landing of sinker.
photo-5 : This time, 3 crew, 2 marine technician, and 1 scientist get on the boat to swap the met sensors for ATLAS buoy.
photo-6 : Two technicians work on the buoy.