News

US CLIVAR newsletter highlights Deep Ocean observations May 14, 2017

Read our news article about the use of GO-SHIP hydrography for observing the deep ocean in the latest edition of US CLIVAR Variations, called “A case for observing the deep ocean.” This edition of Variations highlights the existing “state-of-the-art” methods to measure the deep ocean, some of the scientific insights that have already been gained from these observations, and new methodologies and technologies to expand the network of observations. The GO-SHIP article begins on p. 8, and is co-authored by L. Talley, G.C. Johnson, S. Purkey, R.A. Feely and R. Wanninkhof. The lead article in the edition of Variations is an overall case for deep ocean observations, co-authored by G.C. Johnson and M. Winton.

P18 Cruise report #10 Jan 31, 2017

Greetings from the Brown. We are steaming towards Punta Arenas, making reasonable time (7-8 knots) in 12’-15’ seas with steady 20-25 knot Northwest winds. This report comes one day early, as little bird tells me I’ll be very busy over the next few days. We arrive Punta Arenas during the afternoon of Feb. 3rd. Friday night in Punta Arenas.

Antarctic Bottom Waters Freshening at Unexpected Rate Jan 30, 2017

Shift could disturb ocean circulation and hasten sea level rise, researchers say

Read the complete article

This article references US GO-SHIP cruise I08S 33RR20160208 doi: 10.7942/C2H59N

P18 Cruise report #9 Jan 25, 2017

We continue to operate on the aft winch with very few problems with the wire or the CTD. We continue to have excellent, if cold, weather. We have continued, until very recently, to occupy stations at half-degree spacings. This report would end there if it weren’t for some deception and sandbagging that warrant attention. Also, we reached the end of the 103°W P18 line, and conducted an XCS section.

P18 Cruise report #8 Jan 19, 2017

60°S!

After we gloated about our good weather fortunes last week, King Neptune returned the favor with a weekend blow: 25-30 Knot South winds, seas 10-15 ft were our new normal during the 14-16th. Although our transits were slowed, sometimes drastically, we continued operations. Since the 17th, however, we’ve been riding the Western side of a low (< 1000 mb) with very little pressure gradient. Cloudy skies, cold (2-4 °C), but with moderate winds 10-15 knots, squalls to 25.

Sail With Us on P06! Jan 13, 2017

Letter to Students

Greetings,

We are looking for students to participate in hydrographic long-line cruises (1-2 months) this coming summer (2017) in the South Pacific on the RVIB N.B. Palmer of the US Antarctic Program (USAP). The US GO-SHIP program (formerly “US Repeat Hydrography”) collects data for global CO2 and climate variability programs. The website is https://usgoship.ucsd.edu.

Deadline for applications (see below for details): February 15, 2017

P18 Cruise report #7 Jan 11, 2017

Two weeks into Leg 2 of GO-SHIP P18 2016/17, we’re at 47° 30’S, and the weather is … NICE! Sun rises at 6:20, and sets at 9:45.

Not that we haven’t seen some weather. We had a 48 hour blow (25-30 kts) over the 8th and 9th that tested our deploy / recover skills on the forward winch.

P18 Cruise report #6 Jan 4, 2017

Prepared by Rolf Sonnerup

We are now one week into Leg 2 of GO-SHIP P18 2016/17. About half of the scientific staff have changed hands. Sarah Purkey and I thank Brendan Carter and Annie Bourbonnais for remaining aboard to ease our transition, and in particular for leaving us with a crew of scientists in excellent spirits. Weather must’ve been great. One person who is sorely missed is Andy Stefanick, Jedi Master of the CTD and salt analysis, who returned home from Easter Island with a sprained ankle.

P18 Cruise report #5 Dec 29, 2016

Prepared by Brendan Carter

A map of our section with the yellow arrow highlighting what we’ve done this week. The thin black line at ~54°S shows the section of the Chilean EEZ where we are approved to conduct research.

Leg 1 came to an abrupt end one day early after an unexpected Chilean clearance problem. As noted in the previous weekly update, the Chilean clearance was expected to be granted at the last minute and allow us to proceed with our work in the EEZ surrounding Easter Island and the Island of Sala y Gomez. The problem came when the clearance documents that we received made no mention of the work we intended to do in that EEZ. Instead, the documents only approved work to be done at a later date on the approach to Punta Arenas (in a rectangle that looks like a thin black line on the map above). Fortunately, our planned stations are on the edge of the Easter Island EEZ, so we have the option of shifting the stations to international waters to the east (for a shift of up to 1 1/3° east). Rather than implementing this plan immediately, we decided it would be better to preserve sea time for leg 2 and transit to port 1 day early

We’d hoped we’d be able to resolve the confusion before leg 2 began. Unfortunately, it looks unlikely that our clearance will be able to be reviewed in time despite valiant efforts from Captain Kamphaus and our teams from the laboratories on land. It is therefore likely that these stations will need to be shifted east when they are occupied on leg 2. This is not an ideal outcome, but it is significantly better than skipping the stations

P18 Cruise report #4 Onward! Dec 17, 2016

Prepared by Brendan Carter

A map of our section, with the yellow arrow highlighting what we’ve done this week.

We’re on fire! (Figuratively, of course.)