Popping Rocks
  • Science
  • Location
  • Technology
  • People
    • 2016 People

Welcome Aboard

Posted on March 8, 2016
by Maris Wicks

1_welcome_aboard

Welcome aboard R/V Atlantis! This ship is home to 54 humans (crew, technicians, scientists…and a cartoonist) for the next 37 days. For a handful of us, it’s our first time A) being on a ship this big; and B) being on a ship for this long.

2_lost_at_maris

Click to enlarge

In preparation, I had printed out a schematic of the Atlantis , but that still didn’t help me from getting lost. Or asking embarrassingly obvious questions for that matter.  At least I can take solace in knowing that I’m not the only one getting my bearings. Even the Chief Scientist admits to being excited and overwhelmed! These first few days in port have been spent meeting new people, getting familiarized with the ship, setting up bunks/workspaces, and taking copious notes/photographs (that last one is a bit Maris-specific).

Before we depart, the most important job of the scientific party is to get the science labs set up for seagoing work. All of the equipment that is needed for science at sea was either shipped to the boat or brought on board when we arrived. This includes, but is not limited to: computers, microscopes, power tools, spare parts, a turbo molecular vacuum pump, and some bars of chocolate.

3_lab_progress

Click to view animated gif

When we arrived in Barbados, Towcam was just a metal skeleton with its signature fin in back. Dan Fornari set to work assembling Towcam in preparation for its first deployment (and now it looks just like it does in the comic below).

The Alvin and Sentry Groups have already done a lot of testing and preparation: at WHOI, in the Charleston Shipyard, and on the transit to Barbados. Alvin will be making its first dive today; it’s an engineering dive to making sure everything is working correctly.

Towcam

Click to enlarge

That’s all for now.  See you tomorrow!

Uncategorized
← Newer Post
Older Post →

About this expedition: Popping rocks revisited

We will be using the research vessel Atlantis, the submersible Alvin, and the autonomous underwater vehicle Sentry, to find and collect samples of “popping rocks”—basaltic seafloor lavas that contain large amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases trapped in high-pressure bubbles that pop when the rocks are brought to the surface. We intend to use these rocks to understanding the composition and origin of gases in the deep earth. This project began with an expedition in 2016 that was cut short due to mechanical problems. You can still see blog posts from the first trip here, and we will continue adding to them during the 2018 expedition.

Recent Posts

  • From Rocks to Rock Stars: A step-by-step guide to how a sample becomes a star
  • A Sacrifice to the Sea
  • Things on Ships
  • Our Cups Runeth Under
  • Traditions and Opportunities

Follow along live

Tweets by @popping_rocks

Follow our expedition

Completely spam free, opt out any time.

Email address
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution logoWHOI is the world's leading non-profit oceanographic research organization. Our mission is to explore and understand the ocean and to educate scientists, students, decision-makers, and the public.
Popping Rocks
Copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy.
Problems or questions about the site, please contact webapp-support@whoi.edu
National Science FoundationThis expedition is funded by the National Science Foundation.