Glider hiccups

We are safe and SOUND back in Cordova. After leaving port today we headed out to launch the glider north of Hawkins Island. The glider had trouble flying after the initial test runs, but did not provide any clues to what the problem may be. We went to Windy Bay to run some more test flights and hide from the wind. The glider seemed to correct itself and ran great, but Rutgers needs to look at the data and make sure it will be ready to fly tomorrow. We are planning to do a short REMUS run in the morning and then launch the glider around 14:00. Good luck to everybody tomorrow.

Ian

Vixen and Alena K departures

It was dark and gloomy in the harbor this morning as loading the boats happened. Rain and wind squalls moved through with periodic lightening of the sky (for very brief moments). The Vixen left about 10:30 am and the Alena K was gone by 1:30 p.m.

One fisherman asked Andy Craig (capt. of the Alena K) what the "missile" he had on board was all about. Mark Moline gave a short description of the glider (aka the "missile") to Andy's son before they left... and the missile's tail fin later proved to be an excellent "table" for a piece of pizza.

rough weather

Hey all,
Currently we are doing extreme blogging so you should be proud. The waves are too rough for anymore ctd casts in the central sound, so after NS3 we decided to head east and do the OB line. there are swells from the south and chop from the north east, so the further south the Auklet went the worse the conditions became.

-Kerstin

Update from the Auklet

Hi Everyone

We're right in the central sound now...conditions are worsening. Dave estimates 3-5 ft swell on average, whitecaps, and 25 knot winds. We skipped a CTD EW4 because the boat was rolling too severely, and because our cast at EW3 had a 45 degree wire angle!

We're motoring westwards towards Naked I hoping the conditions will get better as we move west.

Mark H

M/V Auklet gets underway

Crew member Chris waves as the Auklet leaves the Cordova Harbor on this pretty wet morning! On board are Captain Dave Janka, Mark Halverson, Kerstin Cullen and Rebekkah Federer (and Chris).

Even with the damp weather (and more threatening in a day...), spirits were high. Along with plankton nets, CTDs and computers, at least one guitar and banjo were loaded on board (just in case there's "down" time).






















After a safety briefing, the boat left at just after 9 a.m.

They'll do hydrographic and some biological sampling later today, weather permitting... the winds were calm as they pulled out but have kicked up in Cordova this afternoon.

Pictured above is the Auklet leaving with the PWS Science Center building to the right.

Cordova Open House

We had a great turnout for at the Cordova Open House late Friday afternoon! Held at the PWS Science Center's warehouse, the public was invited to see the oceanographic equipment that will be deployed this week, and also meet some of the scientists and technicians participating in the experiment. About 40-45 people stopped by during the two-hour event and many seemed very impressed with the glider, AUV and drifters. Pete Puffin watched from a perch on a crate as the Open House visitors looked at the gear and asked questions about how it works and what the data results will tell us. Among the crowd were fishermen, resource managers, some long-time residents, and several visitors from Anchorage who were in Cordova for a Native Village of Eyak sponsored conference on alternative energy options the community might explore.

Posted by N. Bird

Weather sucks

I don't know who wanted the bad weather, but it seems like they will get their wish. The good news is that the forecast for Sunday has improved and it is more likely the Auklet will leave on time. The bad news is that the forecast for the rest of the week has gotten worse and conditions will be pretty marginal.

Scott