October 8th: Transit Day
Written By Dan Suthers October 8, 2004
We are in transit between Kure and Lisianski.
Early this morning, we stopped at Midway just long enough to send our fastest launch, HI-1, to the dock to pick up a package of parts for our ailing Inmarsat satellite electronics. Mike Crumley is now contemplating whether to spend a day breathing ship exhaust fumes to overhaul the device.
Chief Steward Allen Gary caught a Mahi Mahi, which we enjoyed for lunch.
Scientists are in the dry lab working on interim reports. Erin and Ranya are working together, writing up a paragraph on each REA site they visited. Erin summarizes benthic cover and the identification and abundance of algae species seen, while Ranya does the same for invertebrates.
Kyle is writing up summaries of the devices swapped out, and Danny is doing a preliminary review of the data they gathered. The oceanographic data is normally analyzed after the expedition, but it is useful to take a preliminary look in the field in order to be aware of any unusual occurrences or patterns. (This, for example, is how the co-occurrence of a temperature increase and coral bleaching at Maro Reef was noticed.)
At sunset, more than the usual number of people are congregating in the bridge and are in a humorous mood. Some boobies land on the jackstaff; in the process one defecates on a bridge window (which requires wind assistance, given that the windows slope inwards). In jest, Steve Kroening goes out and yells at the birds with a bullhorn!
This was a good day to catch the scientists on board and ask them various questions. I am able to wrap up my towed-diver survey article, and get information on studies of fish biomass.
In the wet lab, David and Susan are photographing a hermit crab that keeps anemone as "pets." It plants them on top of a shell for defense. When it changes shells it moves the anemone too!
Tomorrow we begin three days at Lisianski. I am glad that the voyage is not over yet.
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