The chief Scientist, Colin Griffiths, held a meeting to update us on departure plans (still 5pm) sampling strategy and who exactly will be doing what. He explained the background to the Ellett Line and how it had been occupied 83 times since its inception. Depending on weather, we will be working from Rockall towards Scotland or vice versa. Sometime during this leg, we will make a detour to the Wyville-Thomson ridge to service a current meter mooring.
The Wyville Thomson ridge, named after the scientist who first explored the area, is an undersea topograhical feature which stretches from the Faroe Islands to Scotland. It is significant because it separates the cold deep waters of the Arctic from the warm Atlantic waters. At certain points the cold water flows up and over the ridge, mixing with the other water mass.
The main sampling will involve deployment of an instrument which measures conductivity, temperature and pressure (CTD) from which density and salinity can be derived.
He then split staff and students into the day team who would work with samples in the lab and the watch team who would deal with collecting water samples for various analysis and logging and labelling them. The watch teams will work 4 hours on and eight off and unfortunately I drew the 4 - 8 shift which means a 4 am start and at the other end of the day, a very brief dinner.
By 5pm the whatsits were sorted and we were pleased to hear the lifeboats now worked so we set off down the Solent with a pilot aboard. These pilots play an important role in taking large ships through the maze of Southampton Water then unceremoniously leave the ship by means of a rope ladder onto a small craft.
After a pleasant, relaxing evening chatting in the lounge, and watching the Needles as we passed the Isle of Wight, it was time to be rocked to sleep by the ever increasing swell. (must take these wire coat hangers out of the wardrobe as it was like being lulled by a steel band!)
The food is marvellous by the way - Mark's a great chef. Photo Mark
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