NOWRAMP 2002

9/26/02 - Rapture

Position:
Latitude: 28° 22.654' N
Longitude: 178° 18.610' W
Area Name: Kure Atoll, SE anchorage

Weather:
Barometer: 1018.4 mb
Winds: 12 Knots North East
Description:
Forecast: Low moving in from NE. Some showers, wind 10-15 knots from N. Seas 4-7' NE in mixed 3' south swell.

Sea Conditions:
Waves: 1-4' NE in lee of atoll with 3'south
Current:
Sea:

Daily Vessel Plan:
Scheduled Activities:

REA (Rapid Ecological Assessment) Team A: 3 dives - one on outer reef, two inside atoll lagoon. First outer dive characterized by high vertical relief and presence of large school of thick lipped jack and large galapagos sharks. Dive near Sand Island - typical inner lagoon habitat. North of green island - typical back reef habitat with large Scarids.

REA (Rapid Ecological Assessment) Team B: 3 dives - one spectacular spur and groove off NW side (80'). Two shallow reef flat surveys inside backreef.

Coral Team : One coral core, new record of Porites duerdeni for Kure Atoll. Continued with ground truthing.

Maritime Archaeology : Conducted diving surveys of 2 steel fishing vessels (sections scattered throughout the lagoon) and did diver towed survey in USS Saginaw wreck area - negative result.

Intertidal: Surveyed South and West shores of Green Island. Little hard substrate. Relatively high species richness of macroinvertebrates in sand. Sea biscuits, auger shells, bivalves. Spent 1/2 of day at Verbesina removal.

Terrestrial Team: Cleared two acres of Booby nesting area of Verbesina.

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