We're officially on basin number three! And have been highly successful so far.
Today we’re back to geophysical surveys on the shelf edge heading to Navarin basin. We expect to arrive around 6:20 in the evening and core another site. We may backtrack and core potential sites we’ve passed or do another line across the northern part of Navarin to try to put together a transect from deeper water to shallower water.
Dr. Beth Caissie, left, and Dr. Jenna Hill, both of the United States Geological Survey, with the top section the 7.46 meter core.
We deployed the jumbo piston corer (JPC) twice yesterday. The day shift collected our longest core to date at 7.46 meters, and was a great shot too! We found gravel and rounded rocks at the bottom. We were surprised to discover a big rock lodged in the JPC's nose (the tip of the corer, diameter 10cm). We had to break the rock to get it out and it sheared two screws and mangled the nose. This is an exciting core because we got the whole package of marine, terrestrial, and then rocks!
The jumbo piston corer's nose (the tip of the corer, diameter 10cm) held small, rounded rocks and lodged inside, an even bigger rock.
There is weather coming in, though. We expect the worst on Sunday with predictions of 20 knot winds, rain and 13 to16 foot seas. We hope the forecast changes, but we've been busy securing everything just in case—making sure our seats are back, tray tables are in their full upright and locked position, and seat belts are securely fastened.
OSU MARSSAM coring tech Chris Fanshier, Sikuliaq science tech Jenny Grischuk and UAF geosciences undergraduate Jim Costigan secure a core on deck.
