|
 |
 Description Data
Projects
Other
Data Links
MVCO
News
Plugging
In |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
The Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory has completed an exciting
and successful first season. Since the node was deployed last June
we have established our data archive, launched our web pages, and
supported the pilot program for the Coupled Boundary Layer Air-Sea
Transfer (CBLAST) experiments. Despite some challenges our vision
of the observatory as a significant tool for a growing community
of scientific users is now coming to fruition. Point of View As you can see from the pictures, one thing we have learned much
about in this first year is bio-fouling, or the growth of biological
organisms on deployed instruments. Keeping the node clean enough
for the divers to access connectors and instruments has been a significant
challenge. However, when the node arrived on the dock, biologists
Annette Govindarajan and Nan Trowbridge promptly descended on it
with their buckets to collect hydroids. While Marga was bemoaning
the odor, mess and work required to prepare the system for redeployment,
they were thrilled to find several interesting species. Terry Rioux is setting up his spring-summer diver training classes so now is the time to contact him if you want to join our dive team. We are looking for general support divers as well as those willing to train for dry suits, surface supply and underwater communications gear. Terry's program is available to experienced sport divers interested in becoming WHOI divers as well as new divers seeking certification. MVCO Phase 2: CBLAST Progress has been made on the expansion plans for the MVCO. In January a contract was issued to Appledore Engineering of New Hampshire to design the Air-Sea Interaction Tower (ASIT) that will be the terminus of a new cable from MVCO, about 1.5 km southwest at the 15m contour. It is anticipated that the cable will be laid/buried in June. Negotiations are currently progressing for the tower construction-installation contract and the tower is expected to be installed in late July. Web Page Update Users should note that due to the underwater instrument package
being ashore for annual maintenance we will see real-time data only
from the met mast on the web page for a few weeks. Also a better
address for accessing the web page is: New sections have been added to assist users in planning instrument deployments at the MVCO. Please let us know how to make these sections more useful to you. Looking for a nice sunrise or what the surf was like on Monday? The beach images are now available on the data page. At this time they are all in the archive so remember the time is in GMT and it gets very dark about fours hours from when you would expect it be! Future Plans We have had an exciting number of people inquire about working
at the MVCO and are looking forward to the expansion of Peter Traykovski's
instrument burial studies. Jim Preisig and a diverse group of associates
from other institutions are planning the deployment of several tripods
and buoys for acoustic studies near the CBLAST site. Overall we
are looking forward to an exciting second year at the MVCO. Feedback, suggestions or comments on this newsletter can be sent
to: mmcelroy@whoi.edu
|
|
||||||||||||||
