The Bridge is the name for the command center of the ship. It is where the captain and crew control the ship. From the Bridge, they command the ship, including navigation, communication with land, and some of the cranes. Being on the top of the ship allows people in the Bridge to see what's around the ship, but it also means that the rocking of the ship is greatly amplified.
Main Deck
Thorium Van aka "Cafe Thorium"
GEOTRACES Van
GEOTRACES Water Sampler
Mercury lab
Staging bay
Pump team
Hydrolab
Computer room
The Pump Team in the Lab
Scientists Testing Water
Onboard Laboratory
Storage
Beryllium pump
Fish sampling
Exercise room
ODF Water Sampler
Interview with Chief Scientist Ben Twining
Radium Lab
Setting up the Bubble
Loading the back of the Ship
Elements and Isotopes
Thorium Van aka "Cafe Thorium"
A mobile lab was placed here on the deck to test for Thorium. Because of its location on the ship, people had to walk across the deck to get inside the main part of the ship. When the weather was rough, this became very difficult and dangerous.
GEOTRACES Van
This is where the water was taken from the water sampler bottles and placed in sample bottles to either be tested there on the ship, or sent home for testing. It took a team of people many hours to complete this task.
GEOTRACES Water Sampler
This is where the GEOTRACES’, or GTC’s, water sampler entered the ocean and came back on board. Scientists carried the large Niskin bottles into the nearby lab van, then transfered the water into sample bottles. Because they tested for trace elements, which are extremely small amounts, one drop of sweat or speck of rust could ruin the entire bottle. Therefore, scientists followed precautions to avoid such contamination.
Mercury lab
A mobile lab was placed here on the deck, and mercury testing was performed here.
Staging bay
This is where the Oceanographic Data Facility’s (ODF’s) water sampler gets pulled in. Scientists take turns collecting water from the Niskin bottles, using the numbers on the sides of the bottles to identify the depth the water was collected. Someone watches and records all the samples' location and depth. This meticulous tracking allows scientists to cross reference data, and provides a rich source of information for future study.
Pump team
The pump team has the longest “cast” or time when their machinery was in the water. All the pumps are on the same line, and they are attached at specific intervals. Once they are in the proper place, they will sit for a while and pump water through the filters. There are also water collection containers on the line. These containers are strung at different intervals on the line, and they collect water samples from their specified depths.
Hydrolab
The hydrolab is another onboard laboratory where people work 24/7 testing the water for various nutrients, pH, Helium, and more. The water samples do not need a clean room like the bubble.
Computer room
The computer room had a wall of monitors that displayed the radar, water and wave parameters, a scan of the sea floor, and information about whatever equipment was in the water. People in the computer room stayed in constant contact with whoever was in the bridge.
The pump team in the lab
The pump team works with their filters inside the bubble lab.
Scientists Testing Sample Water in the Bubble
Two scientists test their water samples. The rocking of the ship and limited onboard resources made testing difficult, but sometimes the water had to be tested as soon as possible to get the best results.
Onboard Laboratory
Scientists do their work outside of the clean bubble lab. Only certain people needed to have the extreme decontamination procedures of the bubble lab.
Storage
Inside and outside, scientists had to make the most of the space they had on the ship. Water samples were stored everywhere, including the hull of the ship. This was also where people got their hair cut.
Beryllium pump
The Beryllium pump took hours and involved securing a tube to a line every couple feet. It was the only test that happened off the back of the ship.
Fish sampling
Water from the fish sampler runs through a tube, all the way from the deck on the other side of the ship to this sink. Some people need that specific type of water for their scientific tests.
Exercise Room
This is where people worked out. It was a great way to keep up your spirits and get the blood pumping. Many chose to use the stationary bike or rowing machine since the rocking of the ship made balance difficult, but a brave and agile few would run on the treadmill.
ODF Water Sampler
The ODF Water Sampler is owned by the Oceanographic Data Facility (ODF) at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. It is one of the two water samplers scientists used on the GP17-OCE cruise.
Interview with Chief Scientist Ben Twining
Dr. Ben Twining discusses his area of study, how the ocean is impacted by limited resources, and his favorite part of life at sea.
Radium Lab
This room is technically a freezer, but it was converted to a lab space. The scientists packed as much lab space as they could onto the ship.
Setting up the Bubble
The plastic coverings of the bubble lab keep contaminants out of people's samples. Scientists also put on different shoes for inside the lab, wear clean lab gear like a coat or head covering, and use air pressure to push any dust particulates out of the space.
Loading the back of the Ship
The scientists and crew loaded the ship in San Diego. Then, the ship sailed to Tahiti and many of the scientists flew to meet it there a couple weeks later. In Tahiti, everything got restocked, and then everyone departed for the science cruise in the beginning of December.
Elements and Isotopes
GEOTRACES studies different elements and isotopes to learn more about the ocean's past present and future. Each tested element helps scientists learn something new.
