MVCO Waves Newsletter - September 30, 2003
(Click here for pdf version)

	The double beam floating by the dock prior to deployment.

The huge cross beam to support the CBLAST (Coupled Boundary Layer Air Sea Transfer) program was installed in August. The 5600-pound structure of two parallel hollow steel beams (with a little extra floatation) was towed out to the site and its open end slid into position straddling the two west legs of the ASIT. Divers then pulled it down, as floatation was removed, and secured it to the two clamps that were installed earlier.

Jay Sisson and Glenn McDonald led the dive team that installed a wide array of instruments on the cross beam for John Trowbridge, Sandy Williams, Al Plueddemann, and Tim Stanton (NPGS, Monterey), who are collaborating on studies of near surface circulation dynamics.

The long-range goal of CBLAST is to understand the interaction of coupled atmospheric and oceanic boundary layer processes at low wind speeds where these dynamic processes are driven and/or strongly modulated by thermal forcing. Synoptic measurements were made encompassing a study area of approximately 20 square miles south of Martha's Vineyard.

In addition to the heavily instrumented tower, vessels, aircraft, satellites, buoys and drifters covered the full spectrum of the sampling tools used by more than 25 scientists, from more than ten organizations participating in the ONR sponsored work.

Two different aircraft also made nearly daily flights over the study area. Chris Zappa (WHOI) and Andy Jessup (UW) collaborated on airborne measurements of sea surface temperature (SST) variability using infrared (IR) imagery during the intense sampling for CBLAST-LOW in August. The IR equipment was installed aboard a Cessna Skymaster. The system consisted of a downward-looking IR imager, a video camera and a narrow field-of-view (FOV) IR radiometer.

The other aircraft used, the Pelican, is a highly instrumented rear-propeller aircraft designed to measure atmospheric turbulence, mean variables, and to remotely sense sea-surface characteristics. The Pelican has been mapping out variability in momentum, heat, moisture, and radiative fluxes as well as boundary layer structure.

Wade McGillis and Eric Hintsa have also heavily instrumented the tower to monitor ozone, carbon and CO2. The RV Asterias and Gemma were among the vessels used.

Bob Weller's Upper Ocean Processes group deployed 15 different moorings. Five large moorings were deployed in an area south of Martha's Vineyard, MA. Three of the moorings were equipped with improved meteorological systems that record and telemeter meteorological data to WHOI. These moorings also contained subsurface instruments measuring temperature, salinity, pressure, and current speed and direction. The two remaining large moorings will be equipped with subsurface instruments capable of recording temperature, salinity, and pressure.

Ten light moorings equipped with subsurface instrumentation for temperature logging were also deployed. Five drifters were periodically deployed and recovered to record location, temperature, salinity, pressure, and current speed and direction. Stand alone shortwave and longwave radiation modules, a direct covariance flux system, and sea surface temperature measurements were taken from the fishing vessel Nobska. The vessel also used an instrument chain lowered from the vessel's boom to measure temperature, salinity, and pressure at various depths while underway.

Planning Issues

As our user group grows we will need to work hard at keeping communication open and coordinating activities. Everyone should remember to include both Dive Manager Jay Sisson and Ops Manager Marga McElroy in the planning loop. This will avoid space and resource conflicts while helping to assure efficient and economical sharing of vessels and deployment logistics costs.

Education Event

The Possible Dreams Auction on Martha's Vineyard, an annual charity event created by Art Buchwald and supported largely by the island's celebrities, raised about half a million dollars for island family service organizations this August. Auction "items" are mostly activities with celebrities or behind-the-scenes visits. Thanks to WHOI's George Hampson and the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Gund of West Tisbury, several thousand dollars went into the kitty and the eighth grade class from the Edgartown Elementary School participated in a day of science at Woods Hole. Teachers and students learned about the MVCO, toured the dock and RV Atlantis; visited DSRV Alvin and the REMUS lab. They also learned about the methods and goals of the science program at MVCO and that data and other resources are available to the schools. Mr. and Mrs. Gund will visit WHOI in November.

Communications

Three user newsgroups have been set up and are now being tested. Feel free to subscribe and submit material for posting. We will be looking for feedback after a couple of months, (hopefully the kinks will get worked out). We hope they will be useful tools for sharing information and learning experiences.

"USERS" mail group is intended to communicate with or monitor communications amongst other users. It can be accessed via the web page:
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/mvco_users

or by sending an email with "help" in the subject or body to:
mvco_users-request@whoi.edu

"ALERTS" group is for system alerts (such as impending shutdown, etc), mainly from the system managers. It can be accessed via the web page:
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/mvco_alert

or by sending an email with "help" in the subject or body to:
mvco_alert-request@whoi.edu

"REPORTS" postings are to receive or submit reports (such as cruise reports, calibrations, data updates, deployment experiences):
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/mvco_reports

or send an email with help in the subject or body to:
mvco_reports-request@whoi.edu

Questions or problems should be directed to Janet Fredericks or Marga McElroy.

Feedback, suggestions or comments on this newsletter can be sent to: mmcelroy@whoi.edu

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